With a huge grin, he reached his hand out. “Holy shit, dude. You’ve certainly grown up into a huge motherfucker!”
I laughed and shook his hand. “Playing football for UT helps.”
“No shit? I didn’t know that. Damn, I’ve been so busy on my folks’ ranch I haven’t had time to come up for air. My father had an accident, and I’ve pretty much taken over the running of the ranch. I think I’m getting it back under control and can finally take a few steps back.”
“At least for the wedding and honeymoon,” Lacey said with a stern look. “Listen, I’ve got to get back to work. Thanks for the dances, Gunner. It was good seeing you. Don’t be a stranger.”
“Good seeing you too.”
Lacey planted another kiss on Hank and headed back to the bar.
“I’m sorry to hear about your father, Hank.”
The corners of his mouth rose slightly. “Thank you, Gunner.”
“Want to join us?” I asked while pointing to the table that now had Jeff, Josh, and two girls I didn’t know sitting there.
Hank glanced at the table. “You should probably warn your friends about those two. I’m sure Kate and Lynn are only looking for a hookup.”
I laughed. “Trust me, those two can handle themselves when it comes to the girls.”
Hank flashed me a knowing smile, and we headed to the table. The rest of the evening was spent with Hank and I talking everything from cattle to John Deere tractors. Jeff and Josh had their fun with Kate and Lynn and quickly dashed their hopes of sex when they both told the girls good night and followed me out to the truck.
“Not interested in them?” I asked, jumping up into my truck.
They both grunted.
“I’ll take that as a no, or they weren’t interested in y’all.”
Jeff let out a gruff laugh. “Oh, trust me, I think all we had to do was give them the okay, and we could have taken them right there at the table.”
Josh laughed.
“So what happened?” I asked.
With a shrug, Josh answered first. “Wasn’t feeling it.”
Jeff nodded, his silent way of saying he wasn’t feeling it either.
The drive back to Grams and Gramps’s house was silent. I was almost positive Jeff and Josh were feeling the same way I was. They were tired of the games and longed for something more. We had one more year of college left, and all I kept thinking about was if this was how it was going to be.
By the time I pulled up to the house, I was wound up from thinking so damn hard. “Y’all want to grab a few beers and head to the barn?”
“Yeah, I’m not the least bit tired.” Jeff said as he pushed the truck door open and got out. His phone went off. and he pulled up the text message. He stopped halfway up the steps and cursed. “Shit.”
“What’s wrong?” Josh asked.
Jeff looked at me, and I knew it had something to do with his mother.
“Ellie’s locked out of the house, and my mother won’t let her in. She can’t get hold of any of her friends.” He pushed his hand through his hair. “Fuck! I kept meaning to give her a key to our place.”
“Do we need to head into Austin to get her?” I asked.
Jeff frowned. “Damn, I hate to do that to y’all. It’s late, and by the time we get there, she might have gotten hold of someone.”
“I don’t mind if Gunner doesn’t.”
I was about to tell Jeff I didn’t mind when his phone rang.