I smiled, watching as Sharon carried a sleeping Alex around. I looked for Ellie.
“Where are the girls?” I asked.
“They went to the ladies’ room with Jessie. What in the hell happened between Jessie and Scott?”
I shrugged my shoulders. “Fuck, I don’t know. Something about Jessie going back to Scott’s house, and Chelsea, his ex, was there, waiting inside. ”
“Hell, I could see why that would make a girl mad. ”
Scott walked up and sat down with a sigh.
“Speak of the devil,” I said.
Scott looked at me, confused, and then looked out at Josh and Heather cutting up on the dance floor. “I want that. I want what y’all have. ”
I was shocked by what he’d said. Ah fuck. How much has he had to drink?
I glanced over at Jeff as he gave me a concerned look.
“Scott, how much have you had to drink?” I asked.
Scott gave me a confused look. “One beer, you asshole!”
Jeff started laughing.
I glanced up to see the g
irls dancing on the dance floor. Jessie was smiling while she was talking to Ari about something.
“Don’t let her push you away, Scott. ”
He shook his head. “I’m trying, Gun. I’ve asked her, like, five times to talk to me, to dance with me, to kick me…anything. She won’t even let me explain. ”
“Dude, from what I could make out by all the talking on the way here, you didn’t kick the ex out. You don’t bring a girl home and then ask her to step aside for the ex. ”
Scott sighed as he pushed his hands through his hair. “I know that. At the time, I didn’t think I was doing anything wrong. Fuck, I was just surprised that Chelsea was in my house. Then, when I was talking to Jessie, I accidentally called her Chels. ”
“Oh…ah hell, dude. You done fucked-up!” Jeff said.
“Tell me about it. As soon as I got back home from dropping off Jessie, I had Chelsea leave. ”
“Wait, we ran into Chelsea on the way here, and I overheard Ells and Jessie saying how Chelsea had said she’d spent the night with you. ”
Scott’s face fell. “What the fuck? No, she didn’t! I made her leave. I mean, her ass was naked in my bed when I got home, but I walked away and told her to leave. I have to talk to Jessie. ” He jumped up.
Jeff got up and grabbed his arm. “Dude, don’t mention the fact that she was naked in your bed. Since nothing happened, Jessie doesn’t need to know that. ”
Scott grabbed Jeff on the shoulder and smiled. “Thanks, Jeff, and dude…I really have just been fucking with you about Ari. I know how much y’all love each other. I’d never get in the way of that. ”
Jeff nodded. “I know. I trust Ari. Besides, I’d kick your ass and put you in the hospital if you ever touched her. ”
Scott nodded. “Ah…right. ” He turned and started walking toward Jessie.
“You know Jessie, Gunner. What’s your take?”
I looked at Jeff and then back out toward Jessie and Scott. “Shit, I know they both really liked each other in high school, but Scott was freaked out by how much he liked her. Once Chelsea Mason gave him some attention, he used that as an excuse, and he went after her. It was always about sex with Chelsea though. I just hope they don’t pull a Jeff-and-Ari. ”
Jeff shot me a dirty look. “Fuck off, you fucker!”