Chapter Twenty-Three – Jeff

Ellie walked into the house, and I turned my attention on Gunner. I had to hold my smile in because the guy looked scared shitless. It wasn’t lost on me the little exchange the two of them just had. Ellie’s attempts at flirting with Gunner were kind of cute. I knew Gunner wouldn’t make a move on her . . . at least until he got to know her and asked for my permission first.

“What’s up, dude? Is everything okay?” he asked, clearly waiting for me to go all big brother crazy on his ass. I knew what I was about to do would throw him for a loop.

“Yeah, dude, it’s all good. Listen, I totally forgot I had a date tonight with Rebecca. I’ve been putting it off for weeks now. If I call her now and cancel . . .” I turned back and looked at the house.

The last place I wanted to be was with Rebecca. The girl was fucking nuts, but I had promised her another date, and she had been bugging me to follow up with it. I’d go out with her tonight and tell her I didn’t see this going anywhere and be done with it.

Focusing back on Gunner, I went on. “Gunner, I hate to ask this of you, but can you stay home tonight and take care of Ellie? I don’t want to leave her alone. She’s never taken these kinds of meds before. I mean, I know I’m asking a lot out of you to sit and watch my sister. I think she would be okay with it. Actually, I think she might like you, dude.”

The look on Gunner’s face was fucking priceless. He didn’t know whether to be shocked I had asked him to say at the house with Ellie or over the moon I had just said I thought she was into him. It was damn hilarious, and I’d have given my right nut to have recorded this to look back on in the future.

After he looked around for a few seconds, he replied, “Um, no, I don’t mind at all. Jeff, can I ask you a question?”

It was harder than hell to keep my laughter in. “You know you can, Gun. Shoot.”

He pushed both hands through his hair and struggled with what to say. I couldn’t imagine how hard it would be to tell your best friend you were attracted to his baby sister. The sister I had worked hard at keeping away from him for that very reason.

“Jeff, um, I mean, I don’t mind at all staying at home tonight. I didn’t have any plans, but, dude”—he let out a confused chuckle—“you’ve never let any of your friends around Ellie. Matter of fact, you threatened us with bodily harm if we ever laid a finger on her. So now you’re just going to leave her here with me alone when you used to make me leave anytime she would come over? I mean, I think she’s beautiful . . .”

I lifted a brow, and he cleared his throat.

“Um, I kind of, um, well, I . . . fuck . . . I don’t really know what I’m trying to say here, Jeff. I’m confused as hell.”

Gunner looked back up toward our front door and then at me. I let out a chuckle that caught him off guard.

“What’s so funny?” Gunner asked.

Poor guy, he seemed so damn confused. I almost felt sorry for him. “Dude, you got it bad. So fucking bad you can’t even talk straight!” I said with a roar of laughter.

With stunned silence, Gunner stood there. His gaze locked on me while he tried to figure this all out in his head.

“You don’t think I didn’t notice the two of you staring at each other all afternoon? Or the fact that Ellie was devastated by what that fucker did to her, but five minutes after she saw you, she was pretty much like, ‘Ryan who?’”

I couldn’t help it. I let out another round of laughter. Gunner Mathews was officially thrown on his ass by a girl. And that girl happened to be my sister.

Rubbing his hands down his face, Gunner looked at me. “Wait, I’m so damn confused. Ellie has always been off-limits. Dude, you told me once you would cut off my balls if I ever so much as looked the wrong way at her. Are you trying to set me up for something here? I mean, if you want a fight, we can head to the gym and go a few rounds. Don’t play around with me like this.”

Oh yeah, he indeed had it bad for my sister. Something had told me that once the two of them got to know each other, sparks would fly even more. I didn’t realize they would set a fire deep into my poor best friend, though.

Putting my hand on his shoulder, I gave him a reassuring squeeze. “Listen, you’re my best friend. You’re like a brother to me. I would lay down my life for you, and I know you’d do the same for me. If I was ever going to trust anyone with my sister, it would be you.”

Gunner’s face turned white. “Um, I need to be honest with you. I think I’m attracted to your sister. I mean, I would never disrespect you or Ellie in any way. If you tell me right now to back off and never look at her again, I’d do it. It would be hard because I’m pretty sure your sister has had me tied up in knots for a few weeks. I’m a bit confused by all this, but if you said the word to leave her alone, I’d do it for you, Jeff.” His hand raked nervously through his hair again.

“Ellie had a pretty fucked-up childhood thanks to our mom. She pretty much told her she was useless, just like she told me time and time again. In Ellie’s mind she’ll never be good enough for anyone. I only ask that you give her time. If she ends up having feelings for you, then see where it goes. Keep in mind that she’s innocent, very innocent, and best friend or not, if you hurt her, then I hurt you.”

With a hard swallow, Gunner nodded. “You know I would rather die than disappoint you, man. I promise you that. I promise to take care of her whether it turns out we are friends or it becomes more than that. Always, dude.”

I was more than satisfied with his answer. I knew deep in my heart what type of a man Gunner was. He was caring and a really good guy. He would rather die than ever hurt me or Ellie. That was evident.

With a hard slap on his back, I started to the door. “Good to know, Gun. Good to know. I’d hate to have to beat the shit out of my best friend and roommate. Now let’s go see how Ells is settling in.”

When we walked into the house, I called out for Ellie. She came walking down the hall in a pair of my sweatpants that were practically swimming on her and a UT T-shirt. Her hair was pulled into a high ponytail.

Gunner quickly walked by me and into the kitchen, where he grabbed a cold water. Ellie had no idea her cute little frumpy look probably looked sexy to poor Gunner. I almost felt sorry for the bastard.

“Hey, honey, how’re you feeling?” I asked as I walked up to her.

She lifted her shoulders halfway. “I guess I’m okay. I think the meds are kicking in ’cause I’m really tired.” She yawned.

“Let me go drop this off in my room and grab a few things out of there. I really hope you don’t mind, Ells, but I had plans for tonight that I can’t change. I’ve already blown this girl off three times.” As I walked to my room, I called out, “Gunner offered to stay home and help out if you need anything.”

“Oh. Um. It’s totally fine, Jefferson. I don’t need to be babysat!” Ellie said.

A few minutes later, I walked out to see Ellie all alone staring at a picture in her hands.

“That picture was taken this past spring break in Port A.”

Ellie quickly put it back down and tried to hide the blush on her cheeks. “You sure are one handsome fella, Jefferson. I bet y’all had girls all over you.”

I tossed my head back and laughed. “Nope. Well, don’t get me wrong; there were a few sluts that tried to make their way back to our place. We couldn’t be bothered with the girls down there, though. Most of them are just hoes.”

Placing her hand on her hip, she said, “Well, jeez, thanks for that. If you haven’t forgotten, Ari and I went to Port A for a few days during spring break, so are you calling us hoes?”

I chuckled. “Now come on, Ells, I would never ever say you were like those girls. Ari now, she’s another story.” I laughed and walked into the kitchen to get a beer.

“Hey! That’s my best friend, and she’s not a slut! I’ll have you know she has never even had . . .”

She stopped suddenly as my beer paused at my lips and I tilted my head. A slow smirk rose at the corners of my mouth. Fucking hell. My Ari is still a virgin. Knowing no man had ever touched her made me feel better than it should have.

“So Squirt is still a virgin, is she? Huh. This is news. This could be very informative news indeed!”

Ellie’s face looked pale, and I swore she was about to get sick.

“Jefferson Michael Johnson, so help me God, if you even hint to her that you know, I’ll never talk to you again. Ever!”

I chuckled as I waved off her concern. “Don’t worry, honey. Her secret is safe with me.”

Ellie followed me as I walked out of the kitchen. “Speaking of Ari, what was going on with the two of you today?”

I stopped walking and turned to look at her. “What’re you talking about? Nothing is going on between us. Why would you even ask that? I mean, she’s just . . . she’s just, Ari.” I shrugged my shoulders. Trying to play it off and praying my sister couldn’t read me.

“I didn’t mean to imply there was something going on. It’s just that you were bickering with her, and it seemed like you were trying to piss her off on purpose. She’s my best friend, and I hate seeing you treating her like a spoiled brat. She’s not at all. She’s a grown woman, and she deserves to be treated better than that. I would expect that from you of all people.”

Guilt ripped through my body. There was no way I could tell Ellie I fought with Ari to keep her at bay. She’d think I was insane.

“Oh, believe me, it’s not lost on me how much of an adult Ari is. I’m sorry, Ells. I’ll try not to argue with her . . . as much.”

She shot me a frown.

My heart was racing. If Ellie only knew how much I didn’t want to argue with Ari. How much I wanted to tell her how smart I thought she was. How she was the most beautiful woman in the world besides Ellie. I wanted to tell her Ari was the last person I thought of when I closed my eyes and the first person when I opened them.

But I couldn’t. I couldn’t risk losing her.

Turning, I headed to my bedroom again but paused. “Where’s Gunner?”

A blush rushed into Ellie’s cheeks again. “I mentioned I was hungry, and he pretty much darted out the door to go get food. He said he would be back in a few minutes.” Ellie sat down on the sofa and turned on the TV.

I let out a round of laughter. “Damn, Ellie! You’ve got the boy going every which way but loose!”

She drew her brows in. “What are you talking about? He said he was hungry too. Sheesh, Jefferson, you act like he was jumping off a bridge for me or something.”

Shaking my head, I walked over and sat down next to her. “You don’t see, do you?” I bumped her shoulder gently. Was my sister really that naïve that she couldn’t see the way Gunner looked at her? The way he smiled at her?

“See what? What are you going on about?”

“Ellie, I’ve known Gunner for three years now. I’ve never seen him with the same girl more than a few times. He is so focused on football and school, he pretty much has never given a girl more than five minutes of his attention. Don’t get me wrong; he likes girls and treats them with respect,” I said with a chuckle.

She snarled her lip.

“I can honestly say I’ve never seen Gunner run and fetch dinner for someone. Honey, I know you just had this whole thing with Ryan the douchebag this morning and you believe that bullshit Mom fed you years ago, but Gunner is attracted to you, princess. He’s a good guy, but . . .”

Ellie sat up straighter, anticipating my conclusion.

“But what?” she asked.

“I want you to know I would trust my life and yours with Gunner. I trust him, but this is you we’re talking about. I don’t want him to break your heart or hurt you, Ellie. I really don’t want you to jump into something you’re not ready for, honey. Promise me you’ll be careful.” I took her good hand and brought it up to my mouth and kissed the back of it.

I wasn’t expecting her to bust out laughing. “What’s so funny?”

She couldn’t stop laughing. “Oh my gosh! You’re what’s so funny! I mean, come on, Jefferson! I hardly think that Gunner is interested in me of all people! I’m sure he is only being nice to me because of you!”

She was still laughing when I stood. “You’re beautiful, inside and out. You’re very desirable, princess, and trust me when I say this: Gunner is interested and not because you’re my sister.”