Wait!!! What??! Where the fuck did that come from? Oh my god…. what was happening to me? I’m standing in a damn high school day dreaming about the ranch and Ellie having my child and a fucking lab named Gus!
It is getting hot in here…….
“Gunner? Are you okay? You look like you feel sick. Are you feeling okay??” Ellie said as she took the lock off of the locker door and bent down to pick up the bag she packed.
“Um, yeah yeah…I feel fine Ells. Here let me take that. Is this it? Where are all your books?”
Ellie handed me the bag filled with just a few notebooks, stuffed animals and a few odds and ends in it.
“Oh…Ari turned them all in for me earlier today when she turned in all of her books. She wanted to get here early so she could get it done and then work on her Valedictorian speech. I think she is pretty nervous about it. Are you sure you’re okay?” Ellie asked as she looked me up and down.
I really wanted to tell her no, I was soooo not okay. I was day dreaming about uprooting her life, moving her out to the middle of nowhere and oh yeah…. getting her pregnant with my kid.
Deep breaths Gunner…. deep breaths.
“Sure yeah…. . I’m okay! I think it is just really hot in here. Isn’t it really hot in here to you? Alright if you’re done let’s blow this Popsicle stand what do ya say?” I said as I tried to get some feeling in my legs again.
“YES! Let’s get out of here!” Ellie said with a huge smile on her face.
Shit, there went my heart. We headed back out to my truck and I tossed her bag in the back seat with her other stuff. I opened the door for her and helped her get in. I would never get tired of seeing that blush creep up her cheeks every time I did this. She deserved nothing less than to be treated with the upmost respect.
I walked around my truck and saw Ellie answer her phone. Her smiled dropped and her eyes shot up and looked right at mine. I almost stopped dead in my tracks. My guess it was that douche bag Ryan. Should I stand outside the truck and give her privacy? Fuck that…. I opened my door, climbed in and started the truck.
“No, it’s none of your damn business…. . I don’t need to explain anything to you so please do not call me again. ” Ellie said as she ended the call. She immediately looked at me and there it was…that smile that freaking made my whole insides melt.
Damn……this girl was beautiful.
“Ryan?” I asked as I started to pull out. I can’t even believe he had the nerve to be calling her; that douche bag.
“Um, yeah, I guess he stopped by my house and my mom told him I never came home last night so he was just trying to find out where I’ve been. ”
“Sweetheart you don’t owe that damn fool an explanation of anything you do. Do you understand that? He lost that privilege when he slept with some other girl. Please don’t let him ruin our day okay Ells? Tomorrow you graduate and then it is a whole new beginning for you. ” I said as I reached over and took her left hand. I was surprised when she pulled her hand out of mine.
“I know I don’t owe him anything believe me. I guess I’m more upset he went to my house and talked to my mother. Now she will no doubt be telling me how I fucked this up like I fuck up everything I touch. But anyway…. . Thanks Gunner I appreciate you being such a good friend. ” Ellie said as she kept her eyes to the front of the road.
Well…. that was a loud and clear message. So she was thanking me for being a good friend huh? Why does this girl think everything she touches she fucks up? Her mother no doubt.
“Well I don’t believe that for a minute Ellie. You’re beautiful, smart…third in your class…. and you have a very bright future. Whatever your mother says to you is just bullshit. ”
Ellie let out a laugh. “So everyone keeps telling me but…. anyway…. I don’t want to talk about my mother or Ryan. I can’t wait to go to Halcyons! I’ve never been there but have always wanted to go!”
I looked over at her. She really was an innocent lost little girl. So many things she had never gotten to experience. I want to be the one to share all of them with her for the first time.
We drove around for a few minutes looking for curbside parking. No such luck. I ended up just valet parking. It was easiest and damn near cost the same at the parking lot a block down.
As I handed my keys over I gave my normal warning ……
”Dude, she is my girl. Anyone handles my girl wrong or treats her in a disrespectful way, I beat their ass. You got it?” Poor kid just looked me up and down.
“Ummm, yes…yes sir I got it. Um…. We’re talking about the truck right?” He asked as he looked over towards Ellie who was now trying to hide her laughter. I looked over at Ellie then back at my truck.
“It goes for both of them. ”I said as I gave him a wink and then turned towards Ellie, grabbed her hand and walked towards Halcyon. As soon as we were far enough away she let out the laughter she was trying so hard to hold in.
“Ohhhh holy shit! That was funnier than hell! I mean you had that poor boy scared to death Gunner. Do you always say that when you valet park?” She asked as she was still giggling.
“YES! She is my girl. That truck means a lot to me. She served my Gramps well on the ranch and she has been nothing but faithful to me since the day I got her. I love that damn truck. ” I said with a wink as I opened the door to the coffee shop.
You would have thought Ellie had never set foot in a place like this. She worked in a coffee shop for Christ sake. I saw her looking all around. We walked up to the counter to order and that’s when I saw Crysti. Fuck me…why the hell did she have to be working today. SHIT! As soon as she saw me walk up she walked over and told the girl who was taking orders to switch with her…or so that is what it looked like. I handed Ellie a menu as we stood in line to order.