I stood there for a second taking every bit in that she just said. I felt like I wanted to slap the shit out of her. “You bitch! I don’t know what is worse. You making me believe you lost your virginity or the fact that you just hurt Jefferson like this. How could you do this? I’m so mad at you right now I don’t even want to talk to you!” I shouted at Ari. I picked up my cell phone to call Jefferson. It went straight to voicemail.

“GREAT! It’s going to his voicemail. You have to tell him the truth.” I said as I looked at Ari with pure disgust on my face.

“No….”

“What do you mean no? You can’t make Jefferson think that you slept with Jason just because you got your feelings hurt. You are behaving just like he did Saturday night.” I said as I walked to my closet. I needed to get dressed and ready before Jefferson and Gunner got there.

“I think this is for the better. If Jeff thinks I have moved on then he will be able to move on as well. It’s pretty fucking clear Ellie that Jeff never had any intention of taking things past friendship. This way maybe we can somehow be friends again later on down the road. He can date whomever he likes….I need to move on and I think Jason might be the guy I need to move on with.” Ari said as she walked into my closet and pulled out a pair of white Capri pants and a black sleeveless shirt. “I have a pair of black flats and a belt that will look really cute with this.”

And just like that….she was moving on.

“Do you really think that telling Jefferson you had sex with another guy last night is going to make him just…… move on? Ari, I know Jefferson has feelings for you. Why don’t you….”

“I said NO! I’m done with all of this; I’m not talking about it anymore. I’m going to get you the shoes and belt then I’m heading out to meet my mom for breakfast and then I’m going to call Jason. Tell Gunner I said hi.”

She turned and walked out the door. I put on the pants and shirt and walked back into the bathroom. I tried messing with my hair but nothing looked good so I ended up pulling it back up into a ponytail. I put on a little bit of makeup and ran my fingers over the daisy necklace. I had to smile at the memory of our first kiss. Good God how I wanted to kiss him again so badly. To feel his warm breath against my face, his hands wrapping around my body to hold me close to him. I closed my eyes and dreamed of that kiss. Everything about it was perfect. He was perfect…….but did he truly want me? Was I good enough to keep someone like Gunner?

I shook my head to clear my thoughts. This is why I needed time. I needed to get my feelings and thoughts in order.

Here I was pushing Ari about Jefferson and I was too damn afraid to admit my own feelings for Gunner. I heard the bedroom door shut so I walked out to see if Ari had come back. She had left a pair of black flats and a black belt lying at the foot of the bed.

I looked at the clock. They would be here any minute. I tried to call Jefferson again….right to voicemail. I tried Gunner’s cell next.

“Hey sweetheart we’re almost there.” My goodness my heart stopped beating for a second when I heard his voice. I would never get tired of hearing him call me sweetheart. Never.

“Okay great. Um, I’ve been trying to call Jefferson. Does he have his phone turned off do you know?” I asked.

“Yeah, um about that….we have to stop and pick Jeff up a new phone. He kind of, well he kind of broke his phone earlier so….that’s why it’s going straight to voicemail.”

“I see…..I take it he got Ari’s message then?”

“Oh yeah……” Gunner said in a hushed tone.

“Right….well I guess I’ll just meet you out front. Ari might still be here and she was pretty clear she didn’t want to see Jeff today.”

Gunner laughed a nervous laugh, “Okay Ells we will see you in about three minutes.”

I hung up and grabbed my purse and headed downstairs. Sure enough Ari was still home. I heard her on the phone as I walked to the front door.

“Lunch sounds great Jason. Do you want to just pick me up or should I meet you?”

I had a terrible feeling in my stomach. What was this about? I poked my head into the library where Ari was sitting and waved goodbye to her. She smiled up at me but the smile was so lost and insincere. She then looked out the window and her smile quickly faded. She looked back at me and I could see the tears building in her eyes as she tried to give me another smile and a wave.

Shit……

As soon as I walked outside Gunner jumped out of Jefferson’s truck and helped me into the front seat. He kissed the back of my hand and his smile grew larger when he saw the blush creep up into my cheeks. Shit! Why does he have this affect on me!

Snap out of this Ellie!

I turned to look at Jefferson who leaned over and gave me a kiss on the cheek. I saw him look past me like he was looking for Ari to be right behind me. There went that sick feeling again.

“Good mornin’ honey!” Jeff said as he looked over my shoulder. “Um, where is Ari?  I thought for sure she would be coming with you to pick out your new car.” He kept looking at me and then back at the house.

“She um, she really wanted to come but she had already made plans for today.” I said as I tried to think of a way to change the subject before he asked me what her plans were.

To late…..

“Oh really? What could be more important than her best friend getting a new car?!” Jefferson said as he stared at Ari’s house.

“I guess she had lunch plans.” I said with a shrug and turned back to look at Gunner.

“Gunner I‘m so glad you’re coming with us!”

“Do you know what kind of car you want Ells?” Clearly he knew I was trying to change the subject but Jefferson was not letting this go.

“Who did she have lunch plans with?” He asked before I could answer Gunner.

Fuck a duck….why me? Damn Ari right now for putting me in this spot.

“Um…with um, an old friend from high school or something.” I said as I looked up at Jefferson who was staring at the house still. I turned to look and I could see Ari standing in the window talking on the phone, probably to Jason still.

“Is it Jason Reed? Is he the old friend from high school?” Jefferson asked as he looked back at me.

God when I got back I was going to lay into Arianna! Her stupid childish behavior put me here in the middle of all of this…….. FUCK!

I looked up at Jefferson and did the only thing I could do. “Yes Jefferson, she is having lunch with Jason Reed today. I guess they ran into each other at the country club yesterday.”

“Did he take her out last night?”

“Umm…..she mentioned something like that.” Oh dear God please Gunner change the subject.

Just then Gunner cleared his throat and Jefferson seemed to snap out of it.

“Brad called earlier to see if we wanted to join him and Amanda at Rebels tonight. Do you think you would maybe like to go?” Gunner asked me as Jefferson started to pull out of Ari’s driveway.

Oh God if I could jump across this seat right now I would so plant my lips onto his! I turned around and he winked at me. I smiled back.

“Heck yeah I would love to go! Ari, Amanda, me and Heather have all been there once before. Are you going to ride the mechanical bull?” I asked with a smile and a wink.

Gunner threw his head back and laughed. “NO! But Jeff here…..he can ride that thing like he grew up in the damn rodeo!”

“Wait…..did you just say Amanda AND Brad were going? Like as in…they are going together…as like a couple?” I asked as it hit me what Gunner had just said.

Jefferson and Gunner both let out a laugh.

“Yep….looks like your little friend Amanda left an impression on Brad!” Jefferson said as he raised his eyebrows up and down.

“I guess so.” I said as I laughed along with them.

“Why don’t you go ahead and invite Ari to come along tonight also. Maybe her and her friend Jason would like to go.” Jefferson said with sarcasm dripping from his mouth.