“I don’t know I didn’t ask Ari when she asked if we both could come over to help out.”

Jeff sat up straight. “Ari asked for me to come over too?”

I shook my head yes and Jeff jumped up and jogged back into his bedroom. Well I guess that solves that. I saw Jeff walking back down the hall….what the fuck?

“Dude….did you change what you were wearing?” I asked as I looked up and down at the khaki shorts and the tight ass red t-shirt he put on.

“What? I didn’t want to wear jeans if we were going to be moving…fuck it’s hot outside already.”

I just nodded my head and headed out the door. The whole drive over to Ari’s house Jeff was quiet. I knew he was excited to see Ellie since he had not seen her in about two weeks. The way his knee was bouncing up and down I would say he was excited to see Ari as well.

“Do you want to invite the girls over tonight for Brad’s party?” I asked Jeff as he looked out the window in silence.

“Um, I don’t care. I’m sure Ari will want to bring Jason. That guy was a fucking prick in high school who fucked every girl who let him. I can’t believe she would give it up to that fucker.”

Jeff had been kicking himself in the ass for the last month for pushing Ari into sleeping with another guy. I knew it was killing him inside. About a week ago we all went out and got trashed and when we got home Jeff and I sat in the back yard for a bit. He told me how fucked up he had been feeling since he found out Ari gave up her virginity to this Jason guy. He blames himself for pushing her into it. He just kept saying it should have been special for her….I knew what he was talking about. I think about Ellie all the time. I pray to God I’m the one she is with for the first time. I will do everything in my goddamn power to make sure it is special for her. Of course I can’t talk to Jeff about that unless I want to get my ass kicked.

“Jeff, what’s done is done. You can’t take any of it back dude. You haven’t seen this guy in how many years. He might be a nice guy who will treat her good.” I said as I saw Jeff look over at me.

“Yeah well I guess you’re right. I just hope she’s happy.”

Jeff looked back out the window and I saw his body tense up as I pulled into Ari’s long ass driveway. Damn these people had a shit load of money. As we got closer to the house I saw Ari and Ellie outside putting stuff in their cars. My dick instantly started jumping when I saw her.

FUCK….it had been too long since I laid my eyes on her beautiful face.

“Well, I guess I’m about to see if Ari still hates me.” Jeff said with a chuckle. I pulled up behind Ari’s jeep and my eyes caught Ellie’s. My God….her smile just does me in every time.

Jeff hopped out of the truck first and then I got out, never taking my eyes away from hers. I thought for sure she would go up to Jeff first but I was shocked when she started running over to me. I just stopped in my tracks. She ran and slammed into me so hard I almost lost my balance.

I just held her as tight as I could and breathed in her smell. God I’ve missed her so much.

“Fuck Ellie I’ve missed you.” I whispered as I kissed the side of her head and held her even tighter and lifted her off the ground.

“Gunner! Thank you so much for coming over! I’ve missed you too.” I gently set her back on the ground. When she looked up at me she had the sweetest smile on her face. I bent down and brushed her lips gently with mine. The fact that Jeff was standing here watching all of this left me a bit….uneasy. Ellie sucked in a breath as our lips touched. Holy hell I wanted to just kiss the shit out of her right now. She must have been feeling the same way because she opened her eyes and looked up at me and started to laugh.

“What do you need help with sweetheart….the Calvary has arrived to help with whatever needs moving!” I said as I looked up at Jeff who was now just looking over at Ari.

“Hey Ari how’s it going?” Jeff said as Ellie walked up and gave him a hug.

“It’s going good. I hear y’all are having a party for Brad tonight for his birthday.” Ari said back to Jeff. I could tell she was trying very hard to act like everything was back to normal.

“Um, yeah did Amanda tell y’all?”

“Yep she did. So are we invited to this little party? Ellie and I are going to need a break after moving today.” Ari said as she winked at Ellie. Ellie looked back up to me and smiled.

I got to hand it to Ari….she was Oscar worthy.

“Yeah sure, I mean y’all are always invited to our parties. That’s an open invitation. Feel free to bring anyone with you if you want.” Jeff said as he walked over and started to pick up a box that was on the ground by Ari’s Jeep.

“Cool….but it will just be Ellie and me tonight. There’s more stuff in the house that is too heavy for me to carry if you don’t mind getting it.” Ari said as she moved towards the front door with Jeff following her on her heels.

I leaned down to Ellie and whispered, “Nice…is that her way of letting Jeff know Jason will not be joining us tonight?”

Ellie tried not to but she let out a laugh. “YEP! He is gone for at least a month….back packing in Europe with his dad and brother. To be honest Gunner, I don’t even think Ari likes him.”

“Well she must like him some to have slept with him.” I said as I looked back up towards the house.

“Ahhhh yeah about that….can you keep a secret?”

“Will I get to kiss you if I say yes?” I said as I wiggled my eyebrows up and down. Ellie instantly blushed. Shit…jumpage in my pants again. I had to move to try and adjust my growing problem.

“Yes…yes you will!”

“Well then I am all ears. Spill it.”

Ellie looked back up at the house, the front door was open and it looked like Mark was talking to Jeff and Ari.

“Ari never slept with Jason she just said that to make Jefferson jealous.”

Whoa…wait….

“WHAT?!” I shouted a little too loud. Jeff poked his head out of the door.

“Is everything okay?” He looked between Ellie and me.

“Oh yeah dude. Ellie just told me…… um…..a joke that I didn’t get.” Jeff gave me a strange look and then turned back to Mark and Ari.

I pulled Ellie to the other side of my truck.

“First things first…..”

I leaned down and brushed my lips against hers. She reached up and put her arms around my neck so I deepened the kiss. God the moment I felt her tongue against mine my knees almost buckled out from underneath me. I let out a small moan that made Ellie smile. I pulled back away from her and gave her a smile in return.

“Goddamn I’ve been dreaming of doing that again sweetheart.”

Ellie giggled and looked back around to see where Jeff and Ari where.

Now back to this other bullshit.

“Okay, so you mean to tell me that Ari is still an um, you know, an um….”

“Virgin? Yes she is. She was upset the morning she called Jefferson. She was in hysterics when she told me what she did and was so upset for trying to hurt Jefferson. I tried to tell her she needed to tell him the truth but in her mind she thinks this will help them both to move on. I of course think she is making a huge mistake but it’s not my place to get involved. Please don’t tell Jefferson, Gunner.”

“Of course I won’t say anything but shit….why can’t they see how they both feel? I want to just knock their heads together!”

“What the hell are you two doing over there? This is a family home for Christ sakes!” I heard Ari shout. I looked down at Ellie and right on cue….there went the blush in her cheeks.

“Come on let’s get you moved into your new digs!”

The whole time we helped them move the little amount of stuff they had I kept thinking about what Ellie had told me about Ari. Watching Jeff and Ari together they seemed to be loosening up again and becoming more relaxed around each other. Jeff even asked Ari to stop talking when she was rattling on about something and she replied with a fuck off dickwad. Yep I would say things were getting back to normal.