I looked over to one table and they were setting mason jars all on it. That table would contain lemonade, sweet tea and ice water. Next to that was a giant trough that would have ice in it and filled to the max with beer. Last night Gunner was drilling holes and putting some tubing in it for the water that melted to drain out and away from the area. I smiled thinking about how handsome he looked last night. I looked back towards the house. I could not wait to see him.
The other table had the wedding cakes on it. The groom’s cake was a 4 tiered chocolate cake that had an orange longhorn on the front of each layer. There were chocolate covered strawberries on the edge of each layer and on the top of the cake. All along the bottom of the cake were small chocolate footballs and helmets. The bride’s cake was a three tier white butter cream cake with silver beaded accents on it. It was sitting on a piece of oak that Gunner had cut from a tree that had fallen in a spring storm. It was perfect! I wonder if Gunner had seen it yet.
Then I saw the fire pit that Gunner, Jefferson and Josh built yesterday. I smiled as I saw the table that had all the small pails with S’mores fixing’s in it. I laughed when I thought about how me, Ari, Amanda and Heather got so drunk while painting the pails with chalk board paint and then tried to write S’mores on them all. Gunner and Jefferson ended up having to finish them all. That was a fun night. The kids would have so much fun making S’mores and it reminded me of our first unofficial date at the coffee house.
The trees were all filled with white lights that would turn on right at dusk. I could not wait to see what it looked like! I looked around at all of the games that were set up everywhere. Horse shoes, croquet, washers…it was perfect. I had to giggle at the quilt on the ground with the chess set on it. That must have been Garrett’s idea.
“Ellie honey it all looks so beautiful. ” Ari said as we started to walk towards the barn. Oh my god…. this did not look like the same barn! I don’t know how Drake and the boys did it but the slab floor was cleaned and white lights where everywhere! The band was already setting up in the corner along with the DJ. I was feeling overwhelmed yet so happy. I couldn’t hold it back anymore. I started to cry. I was going to be Gunner’s wife in just a few hours.
“Ellie! What’s wrong?”Ari said as she took me in her arms.
“Nothing it’s all just so beautiful. More beautiful than I could have ever imagined…. . ” I was crying like a baby. Oh god…I was starting to hyperventilate. What the fuck was wrong with me?
“Ellie, breathe! Sweets you have to breathe! Hum, Jenny…. . can you come here?”
I didn’t even notice Ari and Jenny taking me back outside. I couldn’t catch my breath. What the fuck was wrong with me?! They walked me up to the ranch house and set me down on a chair. Emma walked out right then.
I can’t get enough air…. . . OH MY GOD…… I am going to die before I even get married!
“Ellie darling look at me. Look right at me. ” Emma said as she grabbed my face to look at her.
“Ellie take a deep breath in and blow it out. ”
I tried I really did……all I could take was small gasps of air and that was starting to not be enough. Emma turned to Ari.
“Arianna, I want you to calmly go in the house and get Drew. ”
Ari turned and ran into the house screaming out Gunner’s name.
Not thirty seconds later there he was. He came out of the screen door and our eyes met. He came running over to me and landed on his knees in front of me.
“Ellie baby what’s wrong?” Gunner said with nothing but panic in his beautiful blue eyes.
He grabbed my hands and I felt that familiar jolt of electricity. I instantly felt the tightness in my chest let up and I was able to take a deep breath. I threw myself at him and hugged him as hard as I could. He got up and lifted me up with him. I wrapped my legs around him and he started to walk off to the other side of the porch away from everyone. God I loved to be in his arms like this. It was my favorite way for him to hold me.
He was running his hand down my hair. “Shhh baby, it’s okay. I’m here sweetheart. Can you tell me what’s wrong baby? Are you having second thoughts?”
What?! NEVER!
I kept my face buried into him. My god he smelled so damn good. I was starting to get that ache in between my legs.
“NEVER! I want nothing more than to marry you Drew Mathews. I’m not sure what happened to be honest. All I know is I needed to see you and the thought of not being able to see you at that moment, I guess it made me panic. I love you! I love you so much!”
“Jesus baby you scared me. I love you too Ellie. I love you so damn much it hurts. ”
I pulled back and looked into his eyes. “I feel the same way!”
He just laughed.
“You know we’re not supposed to see each other before the wedding. They say it’s bad luck. ”
“I know for a fact that is not true. Emma told me that she and Garrett saw each other the morning of their wedding. Look how happy they are!”
Gunner just smiled at me as he pushed me into the side of the house and started to kiss me with so much passion I thought I was going to explode. Oh shit I could not wait to spend the night with him tonight!
“Can we sneak off somewhere real quick?” I asked as I pushed myself into him.
“My greedy greedy little girl. What am I going to do with you?” Gunner asked as he bit my lower lip. I let out a low slow moan.