Just then my phone rang. I ran over and picked it up off the nightstand. Right on time!
“Good morning Drew! How did you sleep?” I had gotten into the habit of calling Gunner by his real name first thing every morning.
“Good morning sweetheart! I slept like shit without you here. How did you sleep?”
I let out a laugh. “I slept okay but just sleeping with you for a few nights has spoiled me. I miss waking up to your smile. ”
“Jesus, same here Ells, you are all I think about when I go to sleep and all I think about when I wake up. ” Gunner said with such tenderness in his voice.
There was not a day that did not go by that he did not make me feel cherished. I really was waiting for the floor to fall out. Things like this just didn’t happen to me.
“Are you getting excited?”
“YES! I am packed and ready to go! I absolutely cannot wait to get going. How long will it take us to drive there?” I asked as I saw Ari walk by the bedroom with her cup of coffee in hand.
“Depends on how many stops y’all want to make but it normally is about two hours and forty five minutes. ”
“I’m really nervous about meeting your grandparents. What if they don’t like me? Or disapprove of you bringing girls out there! Oh my gosh that never even crossed my mind Gunner. ” I said as panic started to build up inside of me.
Gunner let out a laugh. I could picture him sitting on the sofa right now and that beautiful crooked smile and him throwing his head back as he laughed. Hmmmm…. . I wish I was there right now.
“Ellie, I asked them before I even asked you if it would be alright to invite you and Ari out. My grandparents have a huge ranch house with four bedrooms. Jeff and I will be in one and you and Ari will be in the other. Don’t worry. My grandmother is dying to meet you sweetheart, so please do not worry. ”
I let out the breath I had been holding in. I wonder what his grandparents were like. I didn’t even know it they were his dad’s parents or his mothers. That was something I needed to know before I meet them.
“So are these your dad’s parents or your mom’s?’ I asked Gunner as I saw Ari walk back by my door. She was talking on the phone to someone and did not look happy at all.
“I never told you? I’m sorry Ellie. They’re my father’s parents. I spent pretty much every summer growing up at their ranch. I love that place. My father has a brother who has three daughters who use to join me every summer and boy did we all raise hell together. They were pretty much tomboys growing up with me every summer. Man how we all use to love swimming in the Llano River, watching my grams make her famous apple pies and tend to her flower and vegetable garden. My gramps taught me everything about cattle. ”
“Do they have help on the ranch? I mean they must need help, I can only imagine how much work that must be. Is your father or uncle going to take over the ranch someday?”
Gunner let out a laugh. “Yeah they have help. Drake is the foreman and has been since I can remember. His two sons, Aaron and Dewey, are the ranch hands. They’re a good bunch of guys and would do anything for my grandparents. Drake doesn’t get along with my father or my Uncle Jim. Jim’s oldest daughter Shannon is actually getting married in the fall here in Austin. ”
“Why does Drake and your father and uncle not get along?”
“Not sure but I think it has to do with the fact that they both left right after high school and never looked back. They made it pretty clear that neither one of them wanted the ranch nor anything to do with the ranch. Drake and my father use to be best friends. My dad joined the Army right after high school left everything behind, including his best friend. ”
I just sat there. This was the most Gunner had talked about his father since I met him.
“So, Jeff and I are going to be heading out in a few minutes. Make sure you pack a few pairs of jeans, a sweatshirt and boots okay?” Gunner said as I heard Jeff talking to him in the background. He was saying something about Ari not bringing her whole bathroom.
“Should I pack the new bikini I bought from Victoria’s Secret yesterday?” I said very timidly.
“Fuck yes you should pack that or not…we could always go skinny dippin’!” Gunner said with a wicked laugh.
“You wish! See you in a little bit. Be careful driving over here. ”
“Always sweetheart, talk to you soon. ”
I walked out into the kitchen and Ari was still on the phone. I quickly figured out she was talking to Jason. The look on her face was priceless.
“I’m not sure I am going to have a cell signal since we will be so far out in bum fuck Egypt. Jason really, I’m a big girl I think I’ll be fine……it’s just going to be Ellie and Gunner and me……. . I’m not one hundred percent sure if Jeff is going……. . his grandparents ranch……. . yep just for a like four or five days I think……. he is helping his grandfather fix a few things around their ranch……. . okay well have fun hiking………Yep you to……bye……. ”
I looked over at Ellie as I poured a cup of coffee. I raised my eyebrows and turned my head down to give her a total mom look.
“Funny…sounded like you were having to explain a lot there. ”
“Fuck Jason…. he thinks he can tell me where and what and WHO I can hang out with. No…sorry dude that position is reserved for my dad only and even he stepped down years ago. The fact that he is even upset about Jeff being there just pisses me off!”