“Gunner, what the hell happened? I saw you walking off with Heather, and then I saw Jerry come back alone. Is she okay?”
***
We pulled up to Heather’s apartment, and Ellie asked me to give her a few minutes with Heather.
“Baby, take your time. I’m in no rush. ” If I’d been standing, her smile would have dropped me to my knees. Damn the things this girl does to me.
I pulled up the text messages: two from Jeff and two from Josh.
Jeff: Hey, Ari is worried about why y’all took off with Heather and why Jerry-the-jackass came back alone and pissed off. Have Ells text Ari.
Jeff: Never mind dude. These girls have weird mind powers. Ells just texted Ari and told her what’s going on. Why the fuck would Heather sleep with that douche bag?
Josh: Gunner, I tried 2 call u. Is Heather ok?
Josh: Never mind, Talked 2 Jeff & Ari. I’ll call u 2morrow, dude. Taking Lynda home.
Holy hell, our circle of friends is a crazy bunch. I looked up to see my girl walking toward the truck. She jumped in, leaned over, and kissed the shit out of me.
“What was that for?” I asked, nearly breathless.
“That was for booking a room at The Driskill Hotel, for loving me, for never giving up on me when I was so stupid, and for being patient with this whole baby thing. ”
“I love you, sweetheart. Now, what the hell is going on with Heather?”
Ellie sat back in her seat and sighed. “Fuck a duck. Where do I begin?”
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
ELLIE
By the time we pulled up to The Driskill Hotel, I was emotionally exhausted. This had been such a crazy night. Earlier at the club, I corned Ari in the bathroom, and I’d told her I wouldn’t let her leave until she explained what was going on. I was overjoyed when she told me she was pregnant. I’d truly felt happy for her and Jeff, but at the same time, my heart had broken in two. Why am I not getting pregnant? I’d already made an appointment with Dr Wyatt, Ari’s doctor, and was planning on talking to him about it.
Maybe everyone was right. I just needed to push this from my head and not worry about it. If it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be. But what if I’ll never be a mother? Maybe God thought I would make a terrible mother since I had no example of a real mom growing up.
I felt the tears building in my eyes. No, I’m not going to go there. I looked over at Gunner as he parked the truck in front of the valet. He jumped out and gave his normal this-is-my-girl speech to the poor kid who just kept looking at the truck and me.
Wait for it. . .
“Sir, you’re talking about the truck, right?”
Gunner looked over at me and winked. “Both. ”
***
When we got up to the room, Gunner opened the door, and lifted me up and carried me in. Then, he oh so gently laid me down on the bed. He leaned down and softly kissed my lips. Before he pulled away, he grabbed my lower lip with his teeth and let out a moan.
“I’m going to go run you a hot bath, Baby. ”
I smiled as the thoughts started running through my head. I would never get tired of making love to Gunner in a bed, on the floor, in a bathtub, on a beach. I let out a sigh. Each and every time, he’d made me feel so special.
My smile grew as I thought about the last time we were in this hotel and how he made me feel on our wedding night.
“I hope you’re smiling because you’re thinking of me,” Gunner said in a low Southern drawl.
I felt my body reacting to his voice instantly.
“Yes sir, it most certainly is. ”