The rest of the afternoon was perfect. Well almost perfect because Ari and Jeff argued almost nonstop. When Ari challenged Jeff to a horse race I thought I was going to scream out with joy! While they took off Gunner and I made a bee line down to the south pasture and slowly walked along the river bank while the horses grazed in the field. It was probably the most perfect afternoon in my life. We stopped once and Gunner pushed me up against a tree and kissed the shit out of me. I so wanted to wrap my legs around him for a repeat of last night but the idea of Jefferson or Ari riding up on us had me thinking otherwise.
Speaking of, I could hear the two of them bitching at each other. I sighed loudly and Gunner gave me another kiss.
“Come on sweetheart, let’s get back to the stable and get the horses taken care of. ” Gunner said with a wink.
After we washed the horses and put them in their stalls, Gunner and Jefferson gave them all fresh hay. We made our way back up to the ranch house where Emma was making lasagna. OH GOD it smelled heavenly!
Ari and I headed up to clean up and get ready for dinner. Ari was not acting like herself and she was in a mood. She seemed to be happy when we first started to ride the horses but once we got back to the stables she was pissed about something.
“Everything okay?” I asked as she was lying on the bed staring up at the ceiling.
“No…. ”
“Want to tell me about it before we head to dinner?”
“I hate your brother……”
“This is not new news to me Ari. What did he do? You were so happy when we first started riding. ”
Ari sat up and sighed loudly. She ran her hands down her face and picked up the pillow and screamed in it. Shit, this was probably going to be bad.
“Why can he not admit he has feeling for me Ells? He is confusing me so much. One second he is dancing to a beautiful song and telling me how much he cares about me and then next he is pushing me away as hard as he can. I just don’t get it! Is he confused about how he feels? Scared? He treats me like a child one minute and the next second grabs my bikini top from me and he looks at my body like he wants to devour me.
I. Am. So. Fucking. Confused. ”
I wish I knew what to say to Ari. I got where Jefferson was coming from with his feelings. I wasn’t sure why he was trying so hard to keep Ari in his life but at the same time he was pushing her away. I really needed to sit down with him and talk to him.
“Ari, are you happy with Jason?”
Ari sat up and looked at me confused. She sat there too long…. almost like she was really trying to think long and hard about this question.
“Of course I’m happy with him! I mean he is my…. . well he’s my boyfriend…. . oh god…. I’m so fucked up. I have a boyfriend and I’m pinning over a guy who is not my boyfriend. Jesus Mary and Joseph I’m headed straight to hell!”
I let out a giggle…she probably was! “Ari, if Jefferson said to you right now…be my girlfriend, leave Jason…. what would you say. ”
“I would say Jason who?!” Ari said as we both busted out laughing! It was clear that Ari had feelings for Jefferson, she always had.
“How long will you wait for Jefferson?” I asked as I raised my eyebrow up at her.
She let out a sigh and fell back on her bed. “I really want to say forever but…. ” Just then we heard a knock on the door. I hollered for whoever it was to come in.
Gunner poked his head in and said dinner was almost ready. I jumped up because I wanted to help Emma with the salad. Ari slowly sat up and reached her hand out to mine. I laughed as I pulled her up. As I walked by Gunner he slapped my ass and OH MAN! OUCH!
“OWWW! That hurt!” I said with a giggle. Gunner let out laugh.
“We need to get you over that and back in the saddle tomorrow young lady. ”
Dinner was amazing. My goodness Gunner’s grandmother sure knew how to cook. All Ari and I did was put together a salad to go along with the lasagna and Gunner gushed over it nonstop! Jefferson talked mostly to Garrett and I noticed he never once looked over at Ari. He was smiling at her when we first came downstairs until her phone beeped. Somehow Ari got a signal and a text message from Jason came through. Honestly, I think she was more excited about getting a signal than the fact that she got a message from Jason. Jefferson didn’t see that though and his smile quickly changed to a frown. Maybe I could ask Gunner to beat some sense into my brother. The thought made me smile and Gunner looked up at me and winked. Cue the butterflies in my stomach.
Tonight the girls cleaned up the dishes while Garrett, Gunner, Jefferson and Drake sat on the porch and talked about the ranch. Gunner had already told his grandparents six months ago that he was planning on moving out to the ranch full time once he graduated from college which was less than a year away. I heard Garrett talking to Emma about it earlier. The thought made my stomach hurt. That meant he would be leaving me. I tried to ask Gunner about it at the dinner table but his face turned white as a ghost and he just changed the subject. I’m not sure why but Emma and Garrett gave each other a serious look before the conversation got changed.
After the dishes were cleaned up we all went outside to sit on the porch. Even though it was damn near close to 100 degrees during the day the nights were wonderful out at the ranch! The breeze that blew was just enough to cool you off, that and a glass of Emma’s sweet tea. Good god she made the best damn sweet tea I had ever had. Jefferson and Garrett seemed to be in a deep conversation as I noticed Gunner standing up against the railing looking out into the dark pasture. I felt a warm sensation run through my body when I thought about what I did to him in the river this afternoon. I felt my face blush and I looked around like everyone might know what my thoughts were. Gunner turned right then and tilted his head and smiled at me.
“Penny for your thoughts?”
I laughed. “I don’t think you really want me to talk about my thoughts out loud Mr. Mathews!”
Gunner looked confused and then I swear I saw him blush. He grabbed me and pulled me to him as he whispered I love you in my ear.