Ellie started to let go of my neck. She stepped back and smiled up at me. I leaned down and kissed her softly on the side of her lips. “You are most welcome my Ellie. Now, can I please give you and Ari a ride home? Please?!”
Ellie started to laugh. She nodded her head and we headed back out into the living room. Ari was now sitting on the sofa holding Jeff’s cell phone. She had a huge ass grin on her face.
“What are you doing Ari?” Ellie asked as she walked up to Ari.
“Oh nothin’, just deleting Rebecca’s number from Jeff’s phone. ” She set the phone down on the table as Ellie and I busted out laughing.
Yep…. Jeff was in for a wild ride whether he wanted it or not!
CHAPTER TWENTY THREE
Ellie……
It had been four days since the party and I had not seen Gunner yet. I talked to him on the phone everyday at least twice a day. He called me first thing every morning because he wanted to be the first person I heard each day. Then every night he would call to tell me goodnight. By the third day I was so excited waiting for his calls.
It was Wednesday and Ari and I were going to go looking at apartments. I was stressing out about it as I was going to have to work to help pay my share and I was taking a pretty heavy load the first semester. Just then I heard my phone on the side of the table and I reached over to answer it.
“Good morning Gunner!” I said with as much of a purr to my voice as I could.
“Good morning to you sweetheart, how did you sleep?” Gunner asked with a laugh.
“I slept okay. I have a lot on my mind so I tossed and turned a lot. How about you? How did you sleep?”
“Like shit…. your smell is gone from my bed so I can’t sleep in it anymore. I’m going to
need you to come to my house right away, get naked and roll around in my bed…. . while I watch of course!”
I let out a laugh. He always knew how to make me laugh! I loved to hear his voice over the phone. It made my whole body just tingle. Shit if he only knew how much I would love to do just that but……. I can’t go there. We have to stay friends.
“The only way I would do that is if you had those blueberry muffins ready and waiting for me. ” I said with a giggle. I shouldn’t be flirting with him like this but damn…. it was so much fun! Ryan never flirted with me like this.
“Fuck Ellie…. don’t tempt me or I’ll be baking all damn day! What are you doing today? I want to see you. ” Gunner said so soft and sweet.
“ARGH…. Ari and I are going to look at apartments so she made me block out my whole day for that. I’m not sure how this is going to work out though. I am a bit nervous about it. ”
“Don’t worry sweetheart, it will all work out. Do you think we could go out for dinner tonight? Not on a date…. just as friends?” Gunner asked as I heard a bunch of people yelling in the background.
“Um, yes I would love that! Where are you? It sounds like there is a party going on there. ” I asked as I heard a knock on my door. Ari opened it and I waved for her to come in and sit down on the bed.
“Yeah…. I’m at the gym. ” Gunner said as he sounded a bit distracted.
“My goodness, what time do you get up to go to the gym Gunner? It is only 7:30 in the morning!” I said as Ari started to giggle next to me.
“Jeff and I try to get in a run and a workout first thing each day. That way if I have the time I can sneak in another one later on. Makes it easier for me to just get it done within the morning and……. ”
Gunner’s voice trailed off. Then I heard Gunner start cursing.
“Oh fuck no…. I knew this was going to fucking happen. ” Gunner shouted.
“Gunner? Gunner! What’s wrong? Gunner!” I shouted back into the phone.
“Um, Ellie sweetheart…. . I need to let you go for a second. Jeff has been sparing all week since the party and he just got knocked out. Let me call you right back okay sweetheart?” Gunner said in what sounded like a bad attempt to keep my calm.
“WHAT! OH MY GOD…is he okay? Gunner please call me right back as soon as you can. I’m getting dressed now!” I shouted into the phone.
“Ellie…listen to me…. calm down okay. Give me five minutes and I’ll call you back. ”
I started to cry, oh my god what the hell was Jefferson doing fighting? I managed to let out an okay before Gunner hung up.