I took another step toward her, and this time, she took one toward me. Leaning down, I captured her lips with mine.
“I love you, Ari. More than anything in this world, I love you. ”
She smiled up at me, but her smile didn’t touch her eyes.
I was slowly losing her, and it was nobody’s fault but my own.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
ARI
I tried really hard to not let what Jeff had said to me back at the house affect me. I knew he was stressed, and Scott was going out of his way to flirt with me right in front of Jeff. I tried to make small talk with him on the way to meet Gunner’s parents.
Ellie had sent me a text, saying things were moving slowly with Gunner and his dad. She said they had barely had said two words to each other since his parents had arrived last night.
Ellie was waiting for me on the porch. She practically came running over to Jeff’s truck. As soon as I got out of the truck, she grabbed me and hugged me.
“How are you feeling?” She whispered in my ear.
“Fine. ”
“Lying bitch. Did you tell him?” Ellie asked as she pulled away to look at me.
I shook my head. I could see the look of disappointment on her face.
“Hey, sis. No love for your big brother?” Jeff said as he walked up.
He took Ellie in a big bear hug and spun her around. She started laughing and then told him to put her down.
“How are things with Gun and his dad?” Jeff asked, looking up to the house.
“Well…um…they really need to spend some time alone together, I think. ”
Gunner had sent Jeff a text and said that his dad’s old best friend, Drake was so happy to see his dad that he pretty much came and took him to the barn for awhile.
“I was hoping maybe you could talk Gunner into heading down there,” Ellie asked Jeff.
“Yeah sure, Ells, I can get him to do that. You okay with that, Ari?”
I smiled, trying to act like I really gave a rat’s ass what he did. At this point, I was so tired and weak that I probably wouldn’t have cared if he said he was going to Rebecca’s.
“Yep, no worries. Y’all have fun catching up. ”
Ellie took me by the arm, and then we started to walk into the house.
The first person I saw was Grace.
She smiled and walked over to give me a hug.
“Congratulations on your engagement, Ari and Jeff. I’m so very happy for both of you. ”
Jeff and I both said our thanks, and then Jeff was somehow able to talk Gunner into heading down to the barn.
As soon as they left and it was clear they were gone, the attack began.
“Why the hell have you not told him, Ari? You said you were going to tell him this morning!” Ellie yelled.
“Oh, Ari, honey. I have to agree with Ellie. You need to let him know,” Emma said as she wiped her hands on her apron. She walked over to give me a hug.