I was so excited I could hardly contain myself. When I looked over Jefferson’s shoulder there was that drop my panties smile again. This time I didn’t mind it so much. I smiled back at him just as big as he was smiling at me. I have to admit I think I was more excited knowing I was going to be at a party where I knew for a fact Gunner would be. I had been to their house before but Jefferson always made sure Gunner was never home.

They lived in a two bedroom house that belonged to Gunner’s grandfather. He bought the house when Gunner moved to Austin to attend UT. Jefferson and Gunner hit it off within days of meeting each other and Gunner asked him if he wanted to bunk with him at his house. That was a no brainer. Jefferson would do anything to get out of our house with our drunken mother. I spent most of my days at Ari’s house anyway. Mansion I should say. Her dad was a big shot lawyer but you would never know they had money by the way Ari acted. That was one of the things I just loved about her.

“Am I at least invited to my best friend’s graduation party dick wad?” Ari asked with so much sarcasm it was dripping off of her.

“If she wants you there squirt that is fine by me!” Jefferson said as he rubbed the top of Ari’s head like she was five years old.

“Fucker!” Ari said as she pushed his hand away. Jefferson and Gunner both laughed.

OH. MY. GOD……..that laugh of his. Like his smile, or his touch, or his massive chest was not enough to be my undoing. His laugh about dropped me to the ground. A feeling ran through my whole body every time I heard this guy laugh. What the hell?!

The doctor came back in right at the exact moment I thought I was going to combust from the look Gunner was giving me. He gave me my prescription, another round of how to take care of my hand and out the door we went. Thank God. Between Ari and Jefferson going back and forth with each other and Gunner standing across from me sending me looks that about had me wanting to rip his clothes of…I was more than ready to get the hell out of dodge.

“Hey dick wad, can you swing back by the school so I can pick up my jeep?” Ari shouted over Maroon 5 blasting out of the stereo.

“Ellie and I both have our last shift tonight.” Ari and I both worked part time at Flipnotics. It was a little coffee shop near downtown Austin.

“Oh fuck no is Ellie going to work tonight! She has to rest her hand and she is on pain meds. Are you fucking insane Ari! Thinking Ellie is going to work tonight!” Jefferson shouted back to Ari.

“Yeah, that is not a good idea going in to work tonight Ellie. You need to keep your hand and wrist elevated to keep the swelling down.” Gunner said to me as he turned around and looked at me.

WOW, he really looked like he was worried about me. My heart started to beat faster and I felt the blush creep up into my face.

NO! Wait…I needed to stop this right now. I could not let Gunner Mathews get into my heart. No. It was closed for business. Shut down, never to be opened up to any hurt again.

You will never be wanted by anyone…..Would I ever be able to get my mother’s voice out of my head?

Ari sat there and looked stunned. She just kept looking between Jefferson and Gunner and finally just laughed.

“What?! Are you both her freaking mother? No, I think not. Ells can do whatever she damn well pleases and you two ass wipes have no say in it what so ever! If she wants to go to work or not go to work that is her decision to make. I can’t believe you two…my God.” Ari said in a harsh tone directed more at Jefferson than Gunner.

Gunner gave me a small smile and turned back around and looked out the side window. For a brief second I was pissed at Ari for hurting his feelings. He was only worried about me. Just the thought of it had me thinking things I should not have been thinking about Gunner.

Holy shit……I started to blush just thinking about what his touch would feel like.  Jefferson brought me out of my wayward thoughts.

“You know what squirt you’re right, I’m not her mother but I am her brother. Ells I don’t think it is a good idea honey. Plus you are taking pain meds and you really cannot use your hand.”

Maybe Jefferson was right. It had been such a long day and I was so tired. My hand was killing me and all I really wanted to do was curl up somewhere and go to sleep and forget this whole day even happened. Well, not maybe the whole day. If Ryan had not cheated on me I wouldn’t have been graced with the presence of Gunner all afternoon.

Gunner….even when I think about him my stomach takes a dive. Does that really even happen to people? According to my mother all men are evil bastards. Jefferson isn’t an evil bastard. He would never purposely hurt anyone. Although he does seem to be doing a good job at getting Ari all fired up today. They are currently going back and forth about what is better for me again. If I didn’t know any better….

OH MY GOD! OH. MY. GOD. Jefferson likes Arianna! Holy fuck, how did I not see this?! The way he keeps looking at her and talking to her. The time he beat up Brad Roberts. Once Ari started high school and really started looking more like a girl than his little sisters….squirt friend. OMG! Jefferson pretty much dumped us both and no longer hung out with us right after that.

How could I forget he used to call her squirt? WOW….this was something I would have to think on later. Right now trying to deal with my hand and these crazy intense feelings for Gunner was enough to handle.

“Oh my god will you two PLEASE shut the hell up!”

Ari and Jefferson immediately stopped talking and Ari looked over and took my good hand.

“Ari, I hate to admit this but I really am so tired and my hand is killing me. Maybe I should rest a bit. Today has been such a long day and I’m ready for it to just be over.” I said as I looked up to Jefferson who turned around quickly to give me a smile.

“You’re right sweets, I’m sorry. I will let them know what happened and why you can’t come in. Tonight was our last day anyway!” Ari said as she leaned over to give me a hug.

“Thanks Ari, you’re the best!” I noticed Jefferson’s body tense up right at that moment. He must have thought of something.

“Ell’s maybe you should plan on staying the night at my place. If mom is home she is going to ask you a million questions and I’m not sure if you want to talk to her about that douche bag Ryan. You always keep a bag of clothes and stuff in Ari’s jeep right?” Jefferson asked as he pulled into the high school parking lot.

“Oh, hum, yeah I didn’t even think about mom or anything. Last thing I need is to hear her saying I told you so.” I practically whispered as I thought about my mother and how I will never hear the end of it when she finds out about Ryan.

Jefferson wants me to stay at his house…..Gunner’s house……..

Oh holy hell…..this is going to be bad. Please, please, pleeeease say that Gunner is going out all night or has some big thing he has to leave town for. Please don’t let him say he is going to be there. I mean Jefferson has never even let me meet any of his college friends, even his BEST friend, and now he is wanting me to spend the night in the same house with the guy who practically just has to look at me and I’m ready to jump him???!!

Shit! Shit! Shit!

“I mean if that’s okay with you Gunner? Ellie can take my room and I will sleep on the sofa.” Jefferson said has he jumped out of his truck to help get my things.

“Of course, it’s cool with me! Ellie can stay over anytime she likes. Our place is her place as far as I’m concerned.” Gunner said as he turned back and looked over at me winked and then gave me that freaking ass panty melting smile.

Bastard! He knew what he was doing. He cannot fool me any. He knows he has an effect on me and I’m probably nothing more than a game to him. HUMPH. I’ll show him!