I woke up Thursday morning with a sick feeling in my stomach, like I was worried about something. What the hell was that all about? Yesterday turned out to be a fucked up day with Jeff spending most of it in the ER. I had to bring him home and get him settled before I brought Ellie back to Ari’s house. Ellie sent me a text saying that Ari had not been home when she got there and was still not home when Ellie went to bed. She was really worried about her. The fact that Ari left the hospital without seeing Jeff made Ellie upset.

What a fucked up mess. I sure as shit hoped Jeff and Ari could work out this cluster fuck, ’cause it was taking a toll on Ellie.

My sweet Ellie. God, every time I thought about her I smiled and had to adjust my damn dick. This whole friend thing was turning out to be harder than I thought it would be. She was worth the wait though. She would always be worth the wait.

After I got back from a run and a quick workout, I walked in the front door and saw Jeff sitting on the sofa. He sure looked a lot better after a good night’s sleep. He was on the phone with someone.

“Sounds great, Brad. I’m in the mood for a night out. Yeah, Gunner just walked in so I’ll let him know. See ya tonight, dude.” Jeff put his cell phone down on the table. He looked up at me and smiled.

“You want to go to Rebels tonight?” Jeff asked while waggling his eyebrows up and down.

I just laughed. “Shit, dude, don’t you think you should take it easy? Are you sure you’re ready to go out on the town tonight?”

“Shit yeah! I guess our friend Brad hooked up with Ellie’s friend Amanda. They’re heading down there tonight. Want to call Ellie and see if she wants to go?”

“Brad and Amanda, huh? Ellie should find that amusing,” I said with a laugh while Jeff looked at me confused.

“Whatever, dude. I’m going and thinking of calling up a few of the other guys, so are you up for it?” Jeff asked as he got up and headed into the kitchen.

“Yeah, sure, but, um, if I call Ellie, you know she is going to invite Ari. Are you okay with seeing her right now?”

Jeff turned and gave me a weak smile. “Sure, yeah, whatever. I’m fine with her going along. She sure as shit likes to dance, so she’ll love it there. I’ve tried to call her, even this morning, and she doesn’t want to talk. She pretty much made it clear how she feels, so I think I’m done with that whole thing. I’m fine, dude, really.”

“Dude, you sure you want to just walk away from this? I know you care about her, Jeff. I’ve seen how you look at her and I saw how upset you were when she was dancing with Josh. Man, why don’t you just ask her out to dinner? See where it goes. What’s the big deal?” I said as I grabbed a bottled water out of the fridge.

Jeff took his hands and ran them through his hair and then down his face—a clear sign he was frustrated.

“Shit, Gunner. Man, I have fought my feelings for this girl for as long as I can remember. We used to be really great friends. Ellie, Ari, and I would do everything together. I used to love spending time with those two. Then it all changed. Ari started looking at me differently; she started changing right before my damn eyes. She kept getting more and more beautiful. Then she went away with her parents the summer before they started high school. She came back not looking at all like my little Squirt . . . she came back fucking hotter than hell. That damn smile of hers. Fuck, I swear my dick comes to attention when she is within fifty feet of me. If we started to date and it ended badly, she would be gone out of my life forever. I would rather have her in my life as a friend than not have her at all.”

I just shook my head. “Jeff, you can’t be afraid of losing her friendship. Fuck, dude, your sister has turned my damn world upside down. She keeps pushing me away, but I’m not giving up on her. I don’t think you should give up on Ari. I really think you should think about taking this friendship a little further.”

“I can’t. I think we’re better this way. I’m not even sure we’re still friends, to be honest. I just need to move on, and I think she already has. Anyway, dude, enough about Ari. What’s going on with my little sister and you? I haven’t seen her so damn happy in a long-ass time. I appreciate you not pushing her, Gun. She needs time to figure shit out.”

“I’m going to be honest with you, Jeff. I know she is your sister, and I appreciate you giving me your blessing, but holy fuck. She has turned my world upside down, and I think I’m going crazy with this whole she just wants to be friends shit,” I said as I pushed my hands through my hair only to have Jeff start laughing at me.

“What the fuck is so funny?”

Jeff got up shaking his head and punched me in the arm. “You! Damn, Gunner, I’ve never in the three years that I’ve known you seen a girl get to you like this. The last thing I thought you were looking for was a relationship. Dude, you even said you had three loves: football, the ranch, and football!”

“Yeah, tell me about it. Just the thought of her going out with anyone else drives me insane. If I ever saw her out with another guy, I think I would want to kill the fucker.”

Jeff’s smile faded a brief second but then it came back. “Well, just give her time. She went through a lot of shit with my mother and then the stunt Ryan pulled on her. She’ll come around, Gunner. I see the way she looks at you. Trust me, dude, she wants to be more than friends just as much as you do.” Jeff shook his head. “Holy fuck, I need to get out of this conversation. That’s still my baby sister.”

I looked at Jeff and laughed. “I sure hope you’re right. Until then, I just plan on waiting for her. I’m not giving up. Speaking of your baby sister . . .” I took out my cell phone to give her my normal morning wake-up call.

Jeff just laughed and headed back to his room. “Hey, tell Ellie not to forget . . . car shopping today!” Jeff shouted from down the hall.

“Hello?”

“Good morning, sweetheart! How did you sleep?” I asked once the lump in my throat was gone from hearing her voice.

“Good morning, Gunner. I slept okay. I heard Ari come in pretty late, though. I think she was out on a date, but I’m not sure who with. It breaks my heart, Gunner. Why can’t they both stop being so damn stubborn?”

I had to laugh at that . . . this was the pot calling the kettle black right here. “I’m not sure, Ellie. I talked to Jeff this morning, and he pretty much said he had no intention of ever dating Ari. Said he would rather have her has a friend than not to have her in his life at all.” By now I had walked out to the backyard. I didn’t need Jeff hearing me talking with Ellie about him and Ari.

“Argh! They’re both so frustrating. They act like they can’t stand each other. How does he think that is a friendship? Oh, shit, nevermind. It’s their problem, not mine,” Ellie said after a long sigh.

“You’re right, Ells. It’s their problem. It will all work out, honey, don’t worry. Jeff can’t ignore how he feels for Ari forever.”

“Yeah, but for how long will Ari wait for him to make up his damn mind?” Ellie went silent.

I took a deep breath knowing she was thinking about us. She was wondering the same thing about me. How long will I wait for her to decide this whole friendship thing was just plain stupid?

I would wait forever for her . . .

“Hey, Jeff wanted me to remind you that y’all are going car shopping today. You excited?” I said as a smile came across my face. I could just picture her jumping up and down right now.

“Oh my gosh! I’m super excited! Are you going to come with us? Oh, please say you’re coming! It will be so much fun.” God, I could hear the excitement in her voice.

I started to laugh. “Only if you let me be the first person you kiss in your new car.”

“Oh, um . . .” She started to giggle. “Okay! It is a deal. You will be the first person I kiss in my new car.”

“On the lips . . .”

Ellie let out a louder laugh. “On the lips, you bet.”

“With tongue. None of this chicken-peck shit!”

“Gunner! You’re terrible!” She was still laughing. “Okay, you’ll be the first person that I kiss on the lips with a little bit of tongue . . . you’re not getting anything else out of me.”

“I’ll take it and I’ll hold you to it. I will not forget; I have an incredible memory,” I said as I walked back into the house. Jeff was walking into the living room with a towel wrapped around his waist. He must have just gotten out of the shower. He picked up his cell phone and made a strange face when he looked at the screen.

He looked up at me and mouthed the word Ellie. I nodded my head yes. “Tell her I’ll be there in forty-five minutes to get her,” Jeff said as he started to listen to a voice mail.

“Hey, sweetheart, Jeff just said he will pick you up in forty-five minutes. If I’m going with y’all, I need to hop in the shower and get ready. I’ll talk to you soon, okay?”

“Sounds good, Gunner, and I’ll see ya soon,” Ellie said with such sweetness in her voice.

“Bye, Ells.”

“Bye, Gunner,” she practically whispered, and my heart rate took off through the roof. Damn, I was already getting excited from just knowing I was about to lay eyes on her beautiful face again.

Just then, I heard Jeff shout “Fuck!” followed by the sound of his cell phone hitting the wall.