Chapter Nine – Gunner

“I really hate spring training,” Josh said as he leaned over and tried to catch his breath from the three-mile run we just did.

“You and me both,” I replied. My body was aching, and I was wishing I had worked out a bit more after football season ended.

Glancing over to Jeff, I saw he was hopping up and down like a damn fool. He clapped his hands together and screamed out how amazing he felt at least four times.

“Damn! That was a good run!” he said walking up to us.

“Fucker,” Josh whispered as I let out a laugh.

Jeff hit Josh on the back. “What’s the matter, Hayes? All that sex not keeping you in shape?”

“Go to hell, Johnson.”

Jeff roared with laughter before focusing on me. “Dude, I told ya you needed to start hitting the gym more.”

I lifted my hand and gave him the finger.

He slapped his chest and pointed to me. “I love you too, bro.”

When practice was finally over, we walked out to my truck.

“That felt damn good to be back at it. I fucking love football,” Jeff practically shouted.

Josh grumbled, and I shot Jeff a dirty look.

“I need a hot bath,” Josh stated as he climbed into the back seat of my truck.

“I need a beer. Let’s go to Fado’s.”

Shaking my head, I answered, “No. I just want to go and soak in a hot tub.”

Jeff stared at me. “You pussy.” Turning to look at Jeff, he kept going. “Both of you are pussies. Jesus, look at the two of you. It was football practice, not a damn marathon.”

“Felt like it,” Josh stated with a slight chuckle.

“No, we’re not going home, and we’re not going to Fado’s.”

“Are we going to get something to eat, ’cause I’m starving?” Josh asked.

“No, asshole, no food. We’re going to the gym.”

Laughing, I shook my head. “The hell we are. I just spent a few hours sweating my ass off; I’m not going to the gym. I’m with Josh; food sounds good.”

“Fine, let’s grab something to eat, but then we’re hitting the gym later.”

Josh scoffed. “Yeah, you have fun with that. I have a date tonight. Sorry, dude.”

Jeff turned to face Josh. “A date with who?”

“Some girl I met at the gym.”

Jeff and I both laughed. “Oh holy hell. That explains why you’re so damn out of shape. You’re using the gym as a pickup spot. Do you even work out when you’re there?”

“Screw you, asshole. Yes, I work out. I’ve hooked up with the girl before. She teaches yoga, and let me tell you, the girl can bend. In all kinds of ways.”

“She have any yoga friends?” Jeff asked.

“I’m sure she does. You want me to find out?”

“Fuck yeah, I need to get laid. It’s been too long.”

I yawned and pulled out of the parking lot.

“Do you need a nap, Gunner?” Jeff asked.

“I haven’t been sleeping good. Keep having the same damn dream over and over again, and I wake up trying to figure out what in the hell it means.”

“Scary dream?” Josh asked.

My eyes lifted to the rearview mirror. “I’m not twelve, Josh.”

He shrugged. “Well, you’re the one who said you can’t sleep because of it.”

“What’s it about?” Jeff asked.

I didn’t even want to touch Jeff’s question with a ten-foot pole. I sighed and said, “It doesn’t matter. Where are we eating?”

“Let’s go to Magnolia Cafe,” Josh said. “I’m in the mood for their migas.”

“Damn, that sounds good. I’m down for Magnolia’s,” Jeff said.

“Then Magnolia’s it is,” I said as I headed through downtown.

By the time we got there and parked, my stomach was protesting the fact that I had skipped breakfast.

“I’m so damn hungry I could eat a horse,” I said following the hostess.

“You boys just get done working out?” the waitress asked as she set three glasses of water on the table.

“Football practice,” Josh said, looking at the menu.

Jeff, on the other hand, was staring at the girl’s breasts. I couldn’t blame him; she was leaving nothing to the imagination.

“Like what you see?” she asked, leaning over more to set my water down.

Flashing her a smile, Jeff replied, “As a matter of fact, I do.”

That’s when Josh lifted his gaze and finally noticed our waitress. She was pretty, with blonde hair pulled up and in a ponytail. Her low-cut shirt was tucked into a pair of jean shorts.

She gave all three of us a sexy smile. “Do y’all want to start with some chips and salsa or some Mag mud?”

“How about a side of you?” Josh said with a wink.

Her teeth sunk into her lip. “As fun as that sounds, I’m working,” she pouted.

“There’s always later tonight.”

Jeff and I both looked at Josh. Did he forget he already had a date tonight?

Placing her hands on the table, she leaned and whispered while sweeping her gaze across all three of us. “A triple-decker?”

“Hell no,” Jeff said, laughing.

I cleared my throat. “We’ll take some chips with some Mag mad, please. I’ll have a sweat tea as well.”

“Fuck, I need a beer after that mental image,” Josh stated.

The waitress looked at Jeff. He pointed to his water. “I’ll stick with water.”

She turned and headed away from our table.

Josh pulled his eyes off her ass and looked at us. “As hot as she is and as much as I want to face-plant between her tits, there is no way I would ever do that with y’all.”

“You afraid my dick is bigger than yours?” Jeff asked as I laughed and took a drink of water.

“You wish, asshole. My dick would put your dick to shame. He’d be too afraid to come out and play.”

“Ha! I say we let our cute little waitress decide who has the bigger dick.”

My eyes widened as I stared at the two of them.

“Are you serious right now? Are y’all really comparing your dicks and thinking of asking the waitress to decide who is better hung?”

They both looked at me and answered at the same time. “Yes.”

I rolled my eyes and went back to the menu.

“Hell, she just asked about fucking all three of us at once. You honestly think she’d have a problem comparing my dick to Josh’s?”

“I don’t know, and I don’t care. Can we just drop this conversation, please? It’s sort of creeping me out.”

The waitress was back with my sweet tea and Josh’s beer.

“You boys know what you want?”

Jeff and Josh both stared up at her and said, “Yes.” Then they looked at each other and frowned.

“I’ll take the Newport chicken club,” I announced.

She smiled and asked, “You want fries, chips, or salsa?”

“Fries.”

She nodded and then focused on the two idiots who were still staring at her.

“I’ll take the Sonora quesadillas,” Jeff said with a smile and wink.

“And what may I get for you?”

“Your number,” Josh stated.

Flipping her notebook, she wrote her number down and handed it to Josh, then turned to Jeff and did the same thing. When she looked at me, I shook my head.

“No, thanks.”

She jerked her shoulder up and turned back to Josh. “What can I get you foodwise, honey?”

“I’ll take the migas, please.”

“Would you like bacon, ham, or sausage for an additional charge?”

He shook his head. “I’ll take toast, though, please.”

“I’ll get this right out. My name’s Sunshine if y’all need anything else.”

Spinning on her heels, she walked off.

“Sunshine. I bet she could brighten my day anytime of the day,” Jeff said.

Josh was typing something out on his phone, and I was positive it was a text message to our overly friendly waitress.

We soon got lost in football talk and how we felt like our senior year was going to be. All three of us had already been approached by NFL scouts. I wasn’t the least bit interested in playing pro. I knew Jeff wasn’t either, but I had no idea where Josh stood on the matter.

“So you thinking pro?” I asked, taking a bit of my sandwich. I glanced over to see it was Jeff now texting with someone. By the smile on his face, I was positive it was a girl. A girl named Sunshine. I rolled my eyes.

“Nah, I’m going to start working with my father. Hopefully learn the ropes of his business. I mean, he’s running a multimillion-dollar-a-year gig. All by making furniture for people.”

“Woodworking in your blood too?” Jeff asked.

“Heck yeah. I’ve always loved making things with my hands. I’ve made a few pieces for my dad’s clients, and I really enjoyed it. I wouldn’t mind branching off and expanding a bit more outside of Austin.”

I nodded. “Sounds like a good plan.”

“What about you, Gunner? What have you decided?” Josh asked.

“The ranch. It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do. After graduation I’m planning on moving to Mason.”

“Damn, I love Mason,” Jeff added.

“Move there with me. Work on the ranch until you decide what you want to do.”

He shook his head. “I don’t know. It depends on if I get offered a position where we intern at. If it’s one I can’t refuse, I may just take it. Stay close by Ellie.”

Her name caused my heart to feel like it skipped a beat. I pushed the crazy feeling away.

“Hell, I’m full now,” I said with a chuckle.

“Me too. I’m ready to just kick back for a bit and not think about football or running again tomorrow,” Josh said, forcing a yawn back.

Jeff shook his head. “Pussies. I’m thinking of going on another run after this food settles.”

Sunshine walked up and flashed that sexy smile she had mastered probably years ago when she stood in front of a mirror as a high school girl.

“Is there anything else I can do for you boys?”

Jeff used his finger for her to move in closer.

“What’s for dessert?”

Her tongue moved across her lips slowly. It even made my dick jump as I stared at her mouth.

“Depends. You want dessert from the menu or dessert from me?”

Josh laughed.

“I think we’ll just take the check, Sunshine.” I said, kicking Jeff under the table to break his eyes away from hers.

Looking my way, Sunshine frowned. “Buzzkill.”

She set the check down and stared at me for a few seconds.

“It’s a shame; you were the one I was most hoping to hook up with.”

When she walked way, I looked at Jeff and Josh glaring at me. I lost it laughing.

“For that, your ass is paying,” Josh stated. He slid out of his chair and started walking off, his pride wounded.

“What? I didn’t do a damn thing!” I said, trying to keep myself from laughing.

Jeff slowly shook his head. “That’s the problem, Mathews: you’re too damn pretty.”

“Pretty? Did you just call me pretty? Who’s the pussy now?” I said as I threw a few twenties onto the table.

When we got to the truck, I stopped and looked at both of them. “Do me a favor, y’all: don’t get with Sunshine. I have a weird vibe about her.”

Josh stared at me like I was insane. Jeff wouldn’t look at me, so that only told me he had already made plans to meet up with her sometime.

“Just for once listen to your heads and not your dicks, will you?”

Josh opened the back door. “My little brain has never steered me wrong before.”

I knew I wouldn’t be able to convince them to keep away from Sunshine, so I dropped it. They’d find out one way or another the girl had something other than sex on her mind.