I was shaking from head to toe after I walked back in the house after yelling at Jefferson. I thought I was going to throw up the moment Ari told me what Jefferson had said to her earlier in the night. It all made sense now. I was wondering why Ari had been dancing so provocatively with a few guys. I noticed Jefferson a few times watching, her but I had no idea he had said that to her.

Oh. My. God. He was such a prick! I was mad at myself, too. If I had not slipped and said Ari was still a virgin, Jefferson would’ve never have said anything to her.

Then to see him walk out of his bedroom with that whore who had been hanging on him all night. I couldn’t believe it. If he did this kind of shit at every party, maybe it was for the best if we made this our first and last party.

I had to stop and settle my anger. I was not only pissed at Jefferson, but also at that fucking Crysti chick who had been hanging all over Gunner when we walked into the living room. It looked as though he was trying to push her away, but if my own brother could do it . . .

I got a glass of water and drank it down quick. I was feeling sick to my stomach. Ari was now sitting on the sofa, lost in thought.

Shit!

“Ari, honey, let’s go get changed and go lay down. I’m not feeling very well,” I said as I walked in front of her.

“There is no fucking way I am sleeping in his bed, Ellie. No. Not after what he did in there with that slut. I will walk home if I have to. Did you see her smile at me when she came out of his room? Did you see that? I mean, oh my God, she actually gloated right . . . right in my damn face!”

Ari threw her hand up over her mouth. Shit. I think she was about to get sick. Next thing I knew, she was flying down the hall to Jefferson’s bathroom. Right then, Gunner walked in with Jefferson. They both saw her go running by and down the hall.

“What’s wrong?” Gunner asked me as he walked in.

“Ari is about to throw up. Shit! Shit! Shit! Do you have a towel I can get wet to bring to her?” I asked Gunner as I turned and saw him walking into the kitchen. He was already making his way to the sink with a small towel and running it under warm water. My goodness, this guy was too much. Everything he did made my heart skip a beat. I walked over and stood next to him. I bumped his arm with my shoulder.

“You really are something else. Do you know that?” I said with a smile. Gunner smiled at me and handed me the towel. Just then, I heard Ari yelling.

“Don’t touch me! Do. Not. Touch. Me. Get the hell away from me, you fucking asshole!”

“Shit!” Gunner and I both said it at the same time as we ran toward the bathroom. Jefferson was standing in the bathroom holding a towel out for Ari, trying to hold her hair back. He looked completely shell-shocked.

Ari was throwing up bad, and when she wasn’t throwing up she was screaming for Jefferson to leave her alone.

I walked up and took Ari’s hair out of Jefferson’s hands. Jefferson stepped back out of my way.

“Gunner, please get him out of here. He’s only making it worse.”

Gunner nodded his head and led Jefferson out of the bathroom and into his bedroom.

Ari just kept saying “Oh my God” over and over. I wasn’t sure if it was the thought of seeing Jefferson coming out of his room with another girl, or if it was the alcohol that was making her so sick. It was probably both.

Once it seemed like she could not possibly throw up any more, she sat back and leaned against the wall. The tears were just pouring out of her eyes.

She started to laugh. “Oh my fuckin’ holy shittin’ son of a bitchin’ hell . . . how could I be so fucking stupid? What would make me think he would ever be interested in me, Ells? So fucking stupid!” Ari shouted out.

I bent down and pushed her hair back behind her ears. “Stop crying right now, Ari. What would your mother say right now if she saw you? She’d be pissed and probably telling you some stupid Katharine Hepburn quote. Pull yourself together. You’re a beautiful, smart young woman. Come on, let’s get you to bed. In the morning you will feel so much better, sweets. You’ll see.”

Ari stood up, and I helped her across the hall into Gunner’s room. It had been the third time I had been in his room. Well, really the second time being fully in his room. I still could not get over how neat he was!

I helped Ari get her shoes off and her shirt. She pulled her shirt up over her head and crawled under the covers. I swear as soon as her head hit the pillow she was out.

I picked up her clothes and laid them over a chair. I walked over to Gunner’s dresser and looked at the few pictures he had. One picture was of an older couple. They looked so happy and so much in love. I bet these were his grandparents. Then there was a family picture. A handsome young man with dark hair in a military uniform and a very beautiful girl—she must have been in her late twenties or early thirties—along with a very handsome boy. This must be Gunner and his parents. I had to smile at the little crooked smile he had even then. There were a few other pictures of just the young woman. She really was beautiful. She had shoulder-length brown hair and beautiful green eyes. Gunner had her smile.

I looked back at Ari, who was sound asleep. I guess I should go clean up the bathroom. I walked into the hall and stopped when I heard Jefferson and Gunner talking. I shouldn’t have, but I put my head up to the door so I could hear them.

“Jeff, you got to explain how the hell you ended up sleeping with Rebecca. You can’t even stand her,” I heard Gunner trying to whisper.

“I don’t know, okay? I had too much to drink and she was fucking coming on to me all damn night. Then watching Arianna out there practically dry humping every fucking guy she was dancing with. I. Don’t. Know. I just snapped. I sure as shit couldn’t have Ari. Rebecca kept hinting about having sex, and I guess I just gave in.”

I could not believe my ears. My own brother. All I could think of was Ryan and how he said almost the same exact thing. Maybe my mother was right: all men are just out for one thing.

No, not Jefferson. I wouldn’t believe he did this on purpose. He needed to explain to me why he just broke my best friend’s heart.

Gunner sighed in frustration then said, “You just gave in? That’s fucking bullshit and you know it. You were pissed at Ari before she even got here, Jeff. You did this on purpose, dude. You might not realize you did it on purpose, but you did. You invited Rebecca here, knowing that she was going to be hanging on you all night. You might not have planned to sleep with her, but you did. You were trying to push Ari away, Jeff, and I think you were successful by what I just heard her yell out in the bathroom.”

“You don’t think I can see that? It fucking killed me when she was screaming at me not to touch her. Knowing I’m the one who caused this. Oh God, it’s tearing me up inside, Gunner. I’m no better than that fucker who hurt Ellie. And worst of all, I not only hurt Ari, I hurt Ellie. Did you see how she was looking at me, Gun? I fucked up with Ellie big time.”

“Dude, you fucked up with Ari big time, too. You know the girl likes you. What’s with this you don’t like her bullshit?” Gunner asked Jefferson.

“I don’t understand my feelings for Ari. She has me so fucking messed up all the goddamn time. It’s been like this for at least the last five years. Fuck!” Jefferson shouted so loud it caused me to jump, and my elbow hit the door.

“Come in,” I heard Jefferson say.

Fuck a duck! Shit. I slowly opened the door and saw Jefferson and Gunner both sitting on the end of Jefferson’s bed. I looked at the bed and it was a mess. I instantly felt sick to my stomach knowing what had happened in here not too long ago. I put my hands up to my mouth in a reflex. Gunner jumped up and ran over to me.

“Ellie, what’s wrong, sweetheart? Are you sick? Do you need to throw up?” Gunner asked as he bent down to look into my face. I shook my head no and slowly dropped my hand away from my mouth. Just the feel of Gunner’s hands on my shoulders instantly calmed my nerves. I looked around Gunner and saw Jefferson sitting there staring at me.

Oh. My. God. He had tears running down his face.

My first instinct was to run to him. I’d never in my life seen him cry. I looked up at Gunner, who was still looking down at me with worry in his eyes. I took a step back to get out of Gunner’s grip. Jefferson started to stand up and walk toward me.

“Don’t! Just . . . don’t, Jefferson. What you did tonight, it was . . . it was just . . . I don’t even want to think about it anymore. I only wanted to let Gunner know that Ari is asleep in his room. Did you need anything out of your room? I could get it for you,” I said as I looked away from Jefferson and back to Gunner.

“Um, no, it’s okay. I’ll just wear a pair of Jeff’s shorts.” Gunner turned to look at Jefferson and then back at me. He walked me out of the bedroom and leaned in close to me. “Is Ari doing okay, Ells? What made her sick? Did she drink too much beer, ’cause I will feel like shit if that’s what made her sick,” Gunner said with the most concerned look on his face.

Sheesh, every time I think he cannot get any better, he goes and does or says something that just makes him that much better. The heat from his body and his breath on my face instantly caused an ache between my legs. I shook my head to clear my wayward thoughts.

“No, Gunner, I don’t think it was the beer at all. I think it was seeing Jefferson walk out of his bedroom putting his shirt back on while some whore was smiling at her with a triumphant fucking smile on her face. That’s what made her sick to her stomach,” I said loud enough for Jefferson to hear me. Gunner just closed his eyes.

“I’m going to go clean the bathroom and then go to sleep. Thank you so much, Gunner, for the party. I enjoyed myself—most of the time, anyway.”

“Ellie, just leave the bathroom alone, sweetheart, it’s fine. Jeff and I always have a cleaning company come in and clean up the house the day after a party. It’s fine, just go to sleep. Please,” Gunner said as he followed me into the bathroom.

“Whatever, fine. I’m exhausted anyway. Good night, and thank you again for letting us use your room. I really do appreciate it.” I leaned up and gave Gunner a kiss on the cheek. He smiled from ear to ear, which made my heart skip a beat.

I didn’t even bother saying good night to Jefferson. I walked back into Gunner’s room. I just wanted to get out of these clothes and go to sleep. My head was killing me from all of the beer I drank. God, I just wanted to get this night over with. I remembered seeing a T-shirt in the bathroom when I was in there earlier. I walked in and saw it lying on the edge of the tub. I took my dress off and pulled the T-shirt over my head.

Oh, holy hells bells, it smelled like Gunner. Hmm, I took a big sniff and buried my face in the shirt. Yep . . . I should sleep well tonight!

I crawled into bed next to Ari. She was snoring away. Man oh man, she was going to feel it tomorrow when she woke up. Maybe she won’t even remember Jefferson sleeping with that bitch Rebecca! Oh, I could only hope.

Good Lord, everything around me smelled like Gunner. His pillow, the blankets. Hmm, I could sleep like this every damn day. Wrapped up in his smell, the last thing I remembered before I fell asleep was dancing with Gunner as he sang in my ear. He really had such a beautiful voice.

***

It seemed like I had just closed my eyes when I heard Ari talking on the phone. I opened my eyes and sat up yawning. From what I could tell, Ari was talking to her parents. She was fine. Yes, the party was super fun. Yes, it was just us two and Jefferson and Gunner, and we slept in Gunner’s room. After a few more seconds, she finally said goodbye and hung up.

“Hey there. Good morning, sunshine. Did you sleep well?” Ari said as she jumped up out of bed. Oh, hell no. She has to be feeling something, for fuck’s sake. I was, and I didn’t even drink as much as she did!

Just then all the memories of last night came flooding back to me. Jefferson and what he said about her virginity, and him sleeping with that Rebecca chick.

“Good morning, Ari. You sure are just a little too chipper this morning. How do you feel?” I asked as I watched her go into Gunner’s bathroom. I heard the faucet start and heard her laugh. I got up to walk in and see what she found so funny.

“What’s so funny?” I asked her as I looked around on the counter.

“This . . . this shit is funny,” Ari pointed down to my skirt and shirt that was lying on the bathroom floor. “I never thought I’d see your clothes laying on the floor of a fucking hot guy’s bathroom. Or you dressed in said hot guy’s T-shirt. Hot, Ells, very hot!” Ari said as she pushed my shoulder with her hand.

I let out a small laugh and reached down to pick up my clothes. “I thought I picked them up last night. Gosh, I was exhausted. Um, Ari, honey, are you okay? I mean, do you want to talk about anything?” I asked as I watched her put her hair up in a pony.

She stopped putting her hair up and looked at me. For one brief second I saw the hurt in her eyes, but it was gone so fast I wondered if it was even there in the first place. She flashed that signature smile at me and shrugged her shoulders.

“There’s nothing to talk about, Ells. What’s done is done. I had a silly crush on a guy who happened to turn out to be a real dickhead. Sorry, I know he is your brother. If he wants to go around and fuck every girl on the UT campus, I could care less,” Ari said as she turned and walked out of the bathroom.

Okay, that was not what I was expecting from her, but I’ll go with it.

“So, you mean to tell me, Arianna, that you are totally fine with everything that happened last night? You’re not the least bit bothered that Jefferson slept with another girl?” I said as I started to take Gunner’s T-shirt off and put my own clothes back on.

“Nope, I’m not the least bit bothered by it, Ellie. Matter of fact, Josh gave me his number and asked me out last night. I turned him down, but now that I think about it, I’m going to give him a call today.”

She turned and gave me a wink and headed toward the bedroom door. I saw her square up her shoulders and take a deep breath as she opened the door and headed out toward the living room. I could hear Gunner and Jefferson talking as soon as she opened the door.

Bullshit . . . she was totally putting up a front.