Chapter Twenty-One – Jeff

Reaching over, I hit the play button and brought my favorite song to life.

“Really, Jeff?” Gunner asked, his voice laced with frustration. All I did was smile back to him. I knew the song drove both him and Ellie crazy, but it was my jam.

“What are you wanting to get at McBride’s?” I asked as Gunner turned the music down some.

“Remington Model 870.”

I nodded. “Nice. We going to plan a trip to the ranch on opening day of dove season?”

“Yeah, if you want. I know Gramps would love to get him some birds. Grams makes the best bacon-wrapped doves you’ll ever have.”

“Sounds like a solid plan to me. Dude, I cannot believe we only have one more year of college,” I shouted over the song I had just turned back up.

“No doubt! I’m glad this year is over. Man, this past year kicked my ass,” Gunner said.

My phone vibrated on the console. Glancing down, I saw it was Ellie. My heart dropped since I knew she was in school and there would be no reason for her to be trying to reach me. Unless she was dismissed early.

I reached over and turned the music down. “I’m getting a text from Ellie. That’s weird.”

After pulling into a gas station, I read the text.

Ellie: I really need you to come and pick me up. Please.

Fuck. Something was wrong if she was asking me to come pick her up.

“Shit, we need to swing by and pick up Ellie. Something must be wrong if she wants to leave school early,” I said, making a U-turn.

Gunner let out a fake girly gasp. “Holy shit. You’re actually going to allow me to meet your baby sister? Let me write this down. I get to meet the ever-baby sister of Jefferson Johnson.”

Reaching over, I punched Gunner on the arm as I let out a laugh. “Shut the fuck up, douchebag! Hey, I’m sorry, I know you wanted to stop by McBride’s and look at that gun.”

With a shrug, he replied, “No worries. I can take a look at it later today or tomorrow. What do you think is going on? I mean, she never asks you to pick her up early.”

Concern coursed through my veins. “I don’t know. She seemed happy the other day knowing everything was set for her scholarship and she’d be heading to UT this fall. Ellie’s worked her ass off in school. I’m really proud of her.”

My mind started racing with different reasons why she wanted to leave school early and not finish out her last day.

“I’m sure she has, Jeff. It’s probably nothing. Did she get a full ride?”

“No. The money from our grandmother’s estate should help cover the additional costs that her scholarship won’t. I had it invested, and it’s done really well.”

Glancing at my speed, I pushed on the gas a little more and picked it up. “Hey, do me a favor and send her a text from my phone giving her an ETA of five minutes, will ya?”

Gunner picked up my phone and cleared his throat. With a quick glance his way, I swear I saw his hands shaking.

Strange. What’s wrong with him?

Fifteen minutes later we were still sitting in the parking lot. Ellie hadn’t answered any of the texts I had sent her.

“Shit. I have a bad feeling.” I strained my neck to look toward the side entrance. “Come on. Let’s just go in and see what’s taking her so long.”

Gunner followed me toward the entrance. “Do you think this is a good idea, going into a high school, Jeff? I mean, don’t you have to do the whole check-in process so you don’t freak people out?”

Gunner was practically jogging next to me to keep up.

“Nah, I know where her locker is. They never lock this side door. I use it sometimes to bring Ellie stuff to eat during her off period.”

We walked in, and kids were everywhere.

Jesus, I don’t miss these days.

As we started walking, I looked to see if Ellie was at her locker, and I quickly spotted her. She looked upset. Really upset.

“What the fuck?” I whispered, taking off toward her.

Once I reached her, I said, “Ellie, what in the hell is going on? I got your text, honey.” When she turned, I heard Gunner inhale a deep breath next to me. I didn’t have time to shoot him a warning look. The one that said remember she’s my sister before you start drooling all over yourself. My eyes landed on hers, and I knew in an instant she had been crying. Glancing down, I saw she was holding on to her hand, and it looked red.

I was going to kill that motherfucker.

“Ryan,” I growled.

Lifting my gaze, I instantly found him. It only took me two steps to get to him and push him against the lockers.

“What the fuck did you do to my sister, you asshole? I’ll kill you if you’ve hurt her!”

I was about to let my fists pound into this little bastard when Ellie tried to pull me back. She whimpered, and my anger grew even more. I reached my fists back, but someone stopped me from punching the little prick.

“Jeff, take it easy, man. Calm down, dude. He’s not worth going to jail for.”

Gunner’s calm voice was able to settle me slightly. The only thing I wanted to do was rip this kid’s head off.

As Gunner pulled me away from Ryan, I glanced back over my shoulder and said, “I’m going to kill that bastard if he hurt her in any way, Gunner.”

Gunner pulled me harder. “Come on before you get thrown in jail.

“Oh, Ells! Jeff, we need to get Ellie to the hospital like right now!”

Ari’s voice pulled my angry stare off Ryan, and now I was staring at Ari, trying to figure out why she said Ellie needed to go to the hospital. It felt like everything was spinning, my anger so ramped up I wanted to punch something. Or someone.

“Jeff, listen to me. Your sister’s hurt. We need to get her to the doctor. Don’t worry about this jerk. We can take care of him later.”

Gunner’s angry gaze looked past me to Ryan. The kid better be shaking in his damn boots, because Gunner looked like he was ready to lay into him even more than I was.

With my jaw clenched tight, I pointed to Ryan. “I’ll be back for you.”

Someone pulled on my arm, forcing me back toward the exit door.

I reached for Ellie’s other hand and walked with her and Ari toward my truck. The anger inside of me was growing by the second, and I needed to know why Ellie had punched Ryan.

“Jeff, stop dragging her,” Ari said.

“I’m not dragging her, Ari.”

“I’m fine, y’all,” Ellie stated.

“We need to get some ice on her hand and wrist,” Ari added, ignoring Ellie’s comment that she was okay.

“Arianna, I know what the fuck I’m doing.”

“Do not call me by my full name! You know I hate that.”

Gunner ran up to the truck and handed Ellie a bag of ice.

“Thank you, ah, um, Gunner.”

I stared at my sister. She had barely gotten the words out. Great . . . she was captivated by his looks. I knew that was going to happen. It was the whole reason I kept her away from Gunner in the first place.

When he flashed her his smile, I knew my poor sister had just forgotten all about douchebag Ryan.

“No problem, Ellie. Try to keep it above your heart, sweetheart, and here, take these Advil.”

Getting into the front seat, I was about to say something when Ari introduced herself to Gunner.

“Hey, I’m Ari, by the way. Ellie’s best friend.”

Gunner gave Ari a smile and looked back to my sister. Holy shit. He was just as taken by Ellie as she was him. I tried not to smile, remembering I was supposed to be livid.

He leaned in and said something about getting her to the doctor. When Ellie’s cheeks blushed, I knew my predictions were spot-on.

Damn, I’m good.

Ellie muttered some words, and Gunner got into the front seat. We exchanged looks and I wanted to smile, but I was still pissed off at Ryan.

As we pulled out, I heard Ellie talking to Ari and telling her she was dead wrong about something. Ari must have picked up on the instant connection between Ellie and Gunner like I had and voiced it to Ellie.

“Ari’s dead wrong about what, Ellie?” I asked.

With a sigh, Ellie replied, “Nothing. She’s delusional, that’s all. She is seeing things that are clearly not there.”

My eyes met Ari’s in the rearview mirror. She looked fucking beautiful . . . like always. I wished I could make her cheeks blush like Gunner just did with Ellie. I’d give anything to be able to have her look at me like Ellie had with Gunner a few moments ago.

But she doesn’t. And I’m no Gunner. He could charm the pants off a nun.

“Well, whatever crazy shit Ari is going on about, I don’t care. I want to know right now what in the hell happened between you and Ryan.”

“Dickwad,” Ari mumbled as Gunner stared at me. I knew he was wondering why I was acting like a jerk toward Ari. I didn’t know why in the fuck I did it myself. It was the only thing I could do to keep myself from doing or saying something I knew I would regret. If I kept Ari mad at me, there was no chance I’d act on my real feelings. The last thing I would want to do was make a move on her and ruin our friendship or, worse yet, her and Ellie’s friendship. Ari had always been there for Ellie, sometimes even more than I had.

Ellie let out a long, deep sigh and started her story.

As I drove, I tightened my grip on the steering wheel, plotting how I was going to hurt that little bastard Ryan.