Oh. My. God……I think I just gave up my heart and soul to Drew Mathews.

I think ……..

I think I was in love with him.

I pulled away from him and he cupped my face with his hands and kissed me so passionately that my head started to spin. I forgot all about Emma and Ari being in the same room and I returned his kiss. I kissed him with everything I had been holding back. The feel of Gunner’s mouth on mine, his tongue dancing perfectly with mine, I wanted to cry again. He slowly pulled away and leaned his forehead against mine. We both took a few seconds to catch our breath.

“I want to show you what the stars look like at night Ellie, just you and me tonight if you’re up for it sweetheart? I want to give you another first.” Gunner said as he looked into my eyes.

I smiled at him because he had remembered our conversation from before. “I would like nothing more than to do that.” Just then I remember Emma and Ari. I felt my face get hot as I looked up.

“They left before I kissed you sweetheart.” Gunner said with a wicked smile as I shook my head at him.

“Come on, I need to wash up before dinner!”

Jefferson and Garrett walked in just then laughing their asses off. Gunner jumped up and took my hand.

Gunner’s grandfather took one look at me and then snapped his head over to Gunner.

“What the hell did you do her Drew? She’s been crying!” Garrett yelled.

Emma walked into the kitchen with Ari laughing about something.

“Oh hush now you old goat. Drew did nothing to her and everything is fine. The girls helped with dinner so go wash up and don’t think I don’t smell that beer on you!”

Everyone laughed and Garrett walked up and kissed Emma with such passion I had to look away. Gunner squeezed my hand and looked down at me as I looked up at him. I didn’t dare tell him my hand still kind of hurt from when I hit Ryan over a month ago.

Just then I saw Jefferson walk up to Ari who was leaning against the counter smiling at the display of affection from Garrett and Emma. I watched him as he gently wiped the flour off of Ari’s face.

“You um, you had some flour on your face there.” Jeff said as he smiled at her and then turned and walked away. As soon as he walked out of the kitchen Ari reached to her side and grabbed the counter. Her face was as red as the dish towel that was slung over her shoulder. She looked up at me and I smiled. I was going to have to have a talk with that brother of mine.

CHAPTER FORTY

G unner……

Jeff, Gramps and I all cleared and cleaned the dishes while the girls went out and sat on the porch. I couldn’t stop thinking about what it was that got Ellie upset. Did Grams say something to her? Maybe Ari said something? I would have to talk to Grams about it when I was able to talk to her alone.

“Jesus Gunner….you’re deep in thought.” Jeff said as he was trying to hand me a plate to dry.

“Sorry dude, I didn’t mean to space out on you.”

“Women, they will do that to you. Best if you just get used to it now boys cause it will be like this the rest of your lives. When I met my Emma my whole world turned upside down. The boys used to tease me ‘cause they said I walked around with a dopey look on my face all the time. It wasn’t that, I was just thinking about her all the time. What was she doin’ at that moment? Who was she with? Was she thinking about me? It totally scared the shit out of me too let me tell you. Now Drew, your grandmother was not the first girl I ever dated. But she was the first one that ever made me lose my breath when I saw her. The only one I ever thought about damn near 24/7.” Gramps laughed and looked over at Jeff and me. We both were just standing there taking it all in.

“Shit, I still feel the same way about Emma after 49 years of marriage.” He turned and leaned his back up against the sink. “I want you both to listen to me right now. I’m not stupid. You’re both 21, almost 22 now. I know you’ve had sex with girls, probably a lot of them with your good looks. But let me tell you, when you find that one girl….. you’ll know it in an instant. You won’t want to just get in her panties and then leave her. Her eyes will hold your eyes captive and take the air out your lungs with just a smile. Her laugh, well shit……. her laugh will drive you mad and you will try to do everything under the sun to hear it as much as you can. Her tears will rip your heart out, especially if you caused ‘em. Just the sound of her voice will drive you mad. When you find that girl boys, you found love. Not lust….true love. You’ll have found the girl who you will spend the rest of your life loving, taking care of and just trying to make her so goddamn happy that you would gladly die doing it.”

Jeff and I just stood there. I had never heard my grandfather talk about women like this. I mean I knew he loved my Grams with his whole heart that was never a doubt in my mind. But here he stood at 73 years old and it was like he had a window into my heart since the moment I met Ellie.

“When you find it, don’t be stubborn and don’t be scared. Fight for it boys….never let it go.”

We just stood there in silence. Then Jeff let out a laugh.

“Fuck Gunner……I think your goddamn grandfather got a job at Hallmark also.” Gramps slapped Jeff across the head.

“You shut the fuck up….I see how you look at Arianna boy. I might have to staple your damn tongue in your mouth because every time she walks in the room it just hangs out panting!” Gramps said as he finished up and started to head out to the porch.

“You know he’s right.” I said as I put the last of the dishes up. “She’s not going to wait forever Jeff.”

“Yeah, well….I don’t know what the hell y’all are all talking about. There is nothing between Ari and me. Besides, she has a boyfriend or did you forget that?” Jeff said as he grabbed the dominos and headed for the door.

“Nah, I didn’t forget but she sure seems like she has!” I said with a laugh. Jeff just shrugged and headed outside.

Stupid fucker.

We played dominos until the sun went down. I loved every minute of being with the ones I loved so much in my favorite place in the world. Watching Ellie with Grams warmed my heart more than I ever thought it would. Jeff was unusually quite the rest of the night while Ari just went on and on from everything to how she loved dominos to how she was going to kick Jeff’s ass at fishing tomorrow. I knew my Gramps liked Ari. She had a fire about her that he appreciated. You really would never know that this girl came from a shit ton of money.

I really knew he loved Ellie. How could he not? That smile, that laugh and those breathtakingly beautiful blue eyes. Grams had gotten up and went into the house. Gramps foreman Drake showed up with his two sons, Aaron and Dewey. I thought Dews was going to fall over when he saw Ari. Jeff noticed it also and I could practically see the steam coming from his ears.

We talked about going fishing tomorrow and to the river and Dewey made it a point to let Ari know he had tomorrow off and would love to join us if it was alright with us. I had no problem with it and when Ari said she would love for him to join us, Jeff got up and pushed his chair back so fast the damn thing fell over.

“I’m going to take a shower. Talk to y’all later, Drake, Aaron, Dew…..have a good evening.” Jeff gave Ari a look and headed into the house.

“What the hell was that all about and why has he been so quiet tonight?” Ari asked as she looked straight at me like I knew what the fuck his problem was.

“I have no clue; he had been fine all day. Maybe he’s just tired.”

Drake and the boys excused themselves after they talked to Gramps about a few items that Jeff and I were going to take care of while we were there.