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’d 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 for 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 twenty-four-seven.” 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 forty-nine 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 twenty-one, almost twenty-two 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 she’ll 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 wild. When you find that girl, boys, you found love. Not lust, but true love. You’ll have found the girl who you’ll 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’d never heard my grandfather talk about women like this. I mean I knew he loved Grams with his whole heart; that was never a doubt in my mind. But here he stood at seventy-three 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, too.” 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 away. “She’s not going to wait forever, Jeff.”

“Yeah, well, I don’t know what the hell y’all are 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 dominoes 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 his shoulders and headed outside.

Stupid fucker.

We played dominoes 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 possible. Jeff was unusually quiet the rest of the night while Ari just went on and on from everything to how she loved dominoes 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’s foreman Drake showed up with his two sons, Aaron and Dewey. I thought Dews was going to fall over when he saw Ari. Jeff also noticed it, and I could practically see the steam coming out his ears.

We talked about going to the river tomorrow to fish, and Dewey made it a point to let Ari know he had tomorrow off and would love to join us if it was all right 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. Y’all 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 was fine all day. Maybe he’s just tired.”

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

Ari stood up, leaned over, and kissed Gramps on the cheek. “I think I’m going to go and grab a book and relax a bit, if y’all don’t mind. There’s a sexy vampire named Kane who is waiting for me!”

“Baby girl, you make yourself at home, you hear,” Gramps said as he stood up when Ari got up and walked into the house.

Just then Grams walked out with a blanket and a basket. Gramps looked over at Ellie and smiled as Grams sat it all down on the small, white table that we had been playing dominoes on.

“Now, Ellie, darlin’, Drew told us you’ve never seen the night sky away from the city lights. I think that is a crime right there that needs a fixing right away. Everyone needs to see the stars out in the country! It is a sight to behold,” Grams said as she sat down next to Gramps. He took her hand and kissed the back of it.

Ellie let out a laugh. “No, I never have. That was one of the things I was most looking forward to coming out to the ranch. I hear it’s amazing!”

“Well, Drew, why don’t y’all take the blanket and goody basket your grandmother made up and head out to the west pasture? I think that one will give you plenty of space away from the lights up here.”

I smiled at my grandparents. I knew exactly what they were both up to. My grandfather winked at me as my grandmother told Ellie what she had packed in the basket.

“There is a mug of hot chocolate along with some fresh chocolate chip cookies I baked this morning. There is also some cheese, crackers, and fresh berries straight from the farmer’s market.”

“Oh, wow, Emma! Thank you so much for putting all this together! I’m so excited. It’s a little chilly, I’m going to run and grab a sweatshirt and change into sneakers. Be right back!”

Ellie jumped up and kissed Grams on the cheek. I watched her as she practically skipped into the house. Her excitement was infectious.

“That’s a pretty big ol’ smile you’re wearing on your face, Drew!” Grams said as I pulled my eyes away from the door Ellie just went through.

“Yeah, well, that girl has turned my world upside down,” I said as I gave Gramps a wink. “Grams, what was Ellie upset about when I walked in earlier? The sight of her crying had me fall to my knees.”

Grams smiled and looked at Gramps. Something exchanged between the two of them and they never even said a word.

“Don’t worry, Drew, I think Ellie was thinking a little bit too much about the past, and she got a little overwhelmed, that’s all. It’s awfully clear to me how much that young lady adores you. Now, you treat her right, Drew Garrett Mathews, or I will kick your ass up and down the west pasture, do you hear me? I like that young lady . . . a lot.”

“Yes, ma’am, I won’t let you down, or Ellie for that matter. I, um, I actually . . . well, I think I, um, I might be—”

“Holy shit, son, spit it the hell out, I ain’t gettin’ any damn younger!” Gramps said as Grams slapped him.

“Garrett!”

I took a deep breath and looked at the two most important people of my life.

“I love her.”

I just blurted it out, and I shook my head as if I couldn’t even believe it still. “I love her so much I can’t even breathe at the thought of her not being in my life forever. I dream about marrying her, having kids with her, and sitting on this very porch watching sunsets with her for the rest of our lives. I love her, Grams and Gramps. I know you probably think it is too soon for me to even be thinking about Ellie like that, but—”

“Drew, listen to me, and listen to me good. The first moment I laid eyes on your grandfather, I knew. I knew I was going to be spending the rest of my life with him, and he felt the same way about me. You’re preachin’ to the choir, son.”

I took a deep breath in and let it out. “I’m not sure Ellie feels the same way about me, Grams.”

“Bullshit!” Gramps said. “I see how that girl looks at you. She can’t take her eyes off you. Just the mention of your name makes her eyes light up.”

“Drew, remember what you told us about her mother? All of that negative crap that was pumped into her all those years. I’m sure that Ellie feels the same way about you. It’s just going to take her a little longer to allow that to even be a possibility for her. Even if she has not admitted it to herself, Drew, she loves you sweetheart. Just give her the time and space she needs, sweet boy of mine. It will happen when it’s meant to happen.”

Just then Ellie burst out of the front door with the biggest smile on her face. She stopped dead in her tracks. “I’m sorry, did I interrupt something?” Ellie asked as she looked at my grandparents and then me.

“No, sweetheart, not at all. Are you ready to get going and look at some stars?” I asked as I stood up and grabbed the blanket and basket Grams had packed.

Ellie did a little jump and let out a squeal. I couldn’t help but laugh. She was so damn cute when she was so excited.

“I’m more than ready!”

“Let’s go then. Will y’all be up when we get back?”

Grams started to laugh. “Take your time, Drew, and don’t worry about waking us up when you get back. Your granddad and I tend to turn in rather early these days.”

“Okay then. Goodnight, Grams. Goodnight, Gramps,” I said as I leaned down and kissed Grams good night.

Ellie said good night to Grams and Gramps and skipped out to the ranch Jeep. I couldn’t help but shake my head at her giddiness. It was funny how such simple things excited this girl.

“One rule, Ellie: you cannot look up at all, okay?” She nodded her head and took her finger and made a cross over her heart.

I hopped into the Jeep, and we set off for the west pasture. I knew the perfect spot. There was a giant, live oak that I used to lay under when I wanted to be alone and think. It was one my favorite places on the ranch to be.

Ellie sat next to me in the Jeep and smiled the whole way. “It’s amazing how I can see even though it’s dark! I love it here already, Gunner!” Ellie said with a smile.

“I’m glad to hear that, sweetheart.”

I pulled up to the oak tree. After a quick check to make sure there was no manure around, I laid out the blanket and put the basket down. I turned the ignition over and tuned it to a country station. I had to laugh when “How Country Feels” by Randy Houser started to play.

“Well, shit, Ells, if this ain’t the perfect song for you!”

Ellie laughed and sat down on the blanket.

I knelt down next to her and pushed a piece of hair that had fallen from her ponytail behind her ear.

“Close your eyes, and don’t open them until I tell you to.”

“Okay.”

Ellie closed her eyes and slowly laid back. I saw her chest rising up and down so fast. God, I could just lay here all night and watch her. I leaned in closer to her but was careful not to block her view.

“Open your eyes, Ellie.”

She waited a good thirty seconds before she finally opened her eyes. She sucked in her breath and her eyes grew wider. She didn’t say a word. The smile that spread across her face was the sexiest thing I’d ever seen in my life. My fucking dick decided it liked it, too. I moved and laid down next to her as I grabbed her hand and just looked up at the endless amount of stars. I never tired of seeing this.

“It doesn’t even look real. I never knew there were so many stars. There are millions of them!”

We laid there for I don’t know how long, just talking about everything. Favorite movies, songs, singers, bands—you name it, we talked about it.

“Gunner, can I ask you something? And please do not feel like you have to answer.”

“Ellie, honey, you can ask me anything you want,” I said as I kissed the back of her hand.

“Why don’t you ever talk about your parents?”

I sat up and ran my hand through my hair.

“Um, well . . . I don’t exactly have the best relationship with them. I haven’t talked to my father or mother in almost three years.”

Ellie sat up and looked shocked. “Why?”

I let out a small laugh. “Well, shit, where should I start?”

“Gunner, you don’t have to talk about this if it’s upsetting for you.”

I looked over at her, and my heart just swelled. I wanted to tell her about my parents.

“No, it’s okay, Ellie.” I took a deep breath and started talking.

“My dad is a drill instructor in the Marine Corps. He and my mother live in Lawton, Oklahoma. My dad and I had different ideas about what I should do with my life. I wanted to play football back here in Texas. My dream was to go to UT, play football for them, and then help out Gramps with the ranch. My father’s dream was for me to go in the army right after high school. Said it was the only way to make something of my life. He pretty much thought I was a loser for playing football and said I’d never get anywhere in my life. After I told him I got accepted into UT and got a football scholarship, he told me if I went to school in Texas, he was finished with me. My mother never did really have the nerve to stand up to my father, so on the day I graduated high school, he had my bags packed and he told me to leave.”

“Oh my gosh, Gunner, how could your own parents do that to you? Have you talked to them at all?”

“No, not since I started UT. My mother called a few times the summer after high school. I was staying here with Gramps and Grams. But once she realized I was not going to back down . . . Well, I haven’t talked to her since that summer. Not even at Christmas. Don’t feel bad for me, sweetheart. It’s really no different than your mother doing what she did to you all those years.”

Ellie laid back down on the blanket and looked up at the stars. We sat there in silence for a few minutes.

“Do you want kids, Gunner?”

My heart started beating a mile a minute. What if Ellie didn’t want kids? I’d always dreamed of a little boy or girl I could teach to fish, ride a horse, learn about the cattle business. It was something I longed for. What if Ellie’s mother had totally fucked up her thinking of kids? I panicked for a brief second.

“Yes, I want kids someday. What about you?”

Ellie stared up at the stars and then smiled. She turned her head over and looked at me, and that smile of hers just blew me away.

“Yes, and I will love them unconditionally.”

I let out the breath I was holding in.

Ellie wanted kids.

God, how I hoped I was the one to make that another one of her firsts.