“Your eyes Gunner…. they’re so…. . blue. ”
Gunner smiled at me and for a second time within the last two minutes my heart melted. He had Emma’s crooked smile. He reached up and wiped the tears from my eyes.
“My beautiful Ellie, please don’t cry. ”
Just then something inside my chest hurt but in a good way. I threw my arms around his neck and he wrapped his arms around me and held me close. The warmth from his touch spread through my whole body all at once.
“My beautiful, beautiful girl…. I hate to see you cry, it cuts me to the bone. I just want you to happy baby. ”
Oh. My. God……I think I just gave up my heart and soul to Drew Mathews.
I think ……. .
I think I was in love with him.
I pulled away from him and he cupped my face with his hands and kissed me so passionately that my head started to spin. I forgot all about Emma and Ari being in the same room and I returned his kiss. I kissed him with everything I had been holding back. The feel of Gunner’s mouth on mine, his tongue dancing perfectly with mine, I wanted to cry again. He slowly pulled away and leaned his forehead against mine. We both took a few seconds to catch our breath.
“I want to show you what the stars look like at night Ellie, just you and me tonight if you’re up for it sweetheart? I want to give you another first. ” Gunner said as he looked into my eyes.
I smiled at him because he had remembered our conversation from before. “I would like nothing more than to do that. ” Just then I remember Emma and Ari. I felt my face get hot as I looked up.
“They left before I kissed you sweetheart. ” Gunner said with a wicked smile as I shook my head at him.
“Come on, I need to wash up before dinner!”
Jefferson and Garrett walked in just then laughing their asses off. Gunner jumped up and took my hand.
Gunner’s grandfather took one look at me and then snapped his head over to Gunner.
“What the hell did you do her Drew? She’s been crying!” Garrett yelled.
Emma walked into the kitchen with Ari laughing about something.
“Oh hush now you old goat. Drew did nothing to her and everything is fine. The girls helped with dinner so go wash up and don’t think I don’t smell that beer on you!”
Everyone laughed and Garrett walked up and kissed Emma with such passion I had to look away. Gunner squeezed my hand and looked down at me as I looked up at him. I didn’t dare tell him my hand still kind of hurt from when I hit Ryan over a month ago.
Just then I saw Jefferson walk up to Ari who was leaning against the counter smiling at the display of affection from Garrett and Emma. I watched him as he gently wiped the flour off of Ari’s face.
“You um, you had some flour on your face there. ” Jeff said as he smiled at her and then turned and walked away. As soon as he walked out of the kitchen Ari reached to her side and grabbed the counter. Her face was as red as the dish towel that was slung over her shoulder. She looked up at me and I smiled. I was going to have to have a talk with that brother of mine.
CHAPTER FORTY
Gunner……
Jeff, Gramps and I all cleared and cleaned the dishes while the girls went out and sat on the porch. I couldn’t stop thinking about what it was that got Ellie upset. Did Grams say something to her? Maybe Ari said something? I would have to talk to Grams about it when I was able to talk to her alone.
“Jesus Gunner…. you’re deep in thought. ” Jeff said as he was trying to hand me a plate to dry.
“Sorry dude, I didn’t mean to space out on you. ”
“Women, they will do that to you. Best if you just get used to it now boys cause it will be like this the rest of your lives. When I met my Emma my whole world turned upside down. The boys used to tease me ‘cause they said I walked around with a dopey look on my face all the time. It wasn’t that, I was just thinking about her all the time. What was she doin’ at that moment? Who was she with? Was she thinking about me? It totally scared the shit out of me too let me tell you. Now Drew, your grandmother was not the first girl I ever dated. But she was the first one that ever made me lose my breath when I saw her. The only one I ever thought about damn near 24/7. ” Gramps laughed and looked over at Jeff and me. We both were just standing there taking it all in.
“Shit, I still feel the same way about Emma after 49 years of marriage. ” He turned and leaned his back up against the sink. “I want you both to listen to me right now. I’m not stupid. You’re both 21, almost 22 now. I know you’ve had sex with girls, probably a lot of them with your good looks. But let me tell you, when you find that one girl…. . you’ll know it in an instant. You won’t want to just get in her panties and then leave her. Her eyes will hold your eyes captive and take the air out your lungs with just a smile. Her laugh, well shit……. her laugh will drive you mad and you will try to do everything under the sun to hear it as much as you can. Her tears will rip your heart out, especially if you caused ‘em. Just the sound of her voice will drive you mad. When you find that girl boys, you found love. Not lust…. true love. You’ll have found the girl who you will spend the rest of your life loving, taking care of and just trying to make her so goddamn happy that you would gladly die doing it. ”
Jeff and I just stood there. I had never heard my grandfather talk about women like this. I mean I knew he loved my Grams with his whole heart that was never a doubt in my mind. But here he stood at 73 years old and it was like he had a window into my heart since the moment I met Ellie.
“When you find it, don’t be stubborn and don’t be scared. Fight for it boys…. never let it go. ”