“Yeah dude its all good. Listen, I totally forgot I had a date tonight with Rebecca. I’ve been putting this off for weeks now. If I call her now and cancel..….” Jefferson said as he looked back at the house.

“Gunner, I hate to ask this of you but, can you stay home tonight and take care of Ellie? I don’t want to leave her alone. She has never taken these kinds of meds before. I mean I know I’m asking a lot out of you to sit and watch my sister. I think she would okay with it. Actually, I kind of think she might like you dude.”

I just stood there stunned into silence and I looked around for a second. Where the f**k was my best friend Jeff? The one who refused to let any of his friends meet his baby sister until after she was out of high school. The Jeff who actually threatened us with bodily harm if we ever laid a hand on her.

This day just keeps getting more and more f**king weird.

“Umm, no I don’t mind at all.” I said to Jeff as I looked at him with a stunned expression on my face.

“Jeff, man can I just ask you a question?”

“You know you can Gun…shoot.”

I ran my hands through my hair again trying to decide how you tell your best friend you are attracted to his baby sister you literally just met hours ago and he was about to leave you alone with her for who knows how many hours?

“Jeff, Umm, I mean I don’t mind at all staying home tonight, I didn’t have any plans but dude. You’ve never let anyone of your friends around your sister, matter of fact you threatened us with bodily harm if we ever laid a finger on her. So, now you’re just going to leave her here with me, alone when you use to make me leave anytime she would come over? I mean I think she is beautiful and, umm, I kind of…um, well I……..FUCK…..I don’t really know what I am trying to say here Jeff I’m confused as hell.” I said as I looked back up towards the house and then back at Jeff who was just standing there smiling.

Jeff let out a laugh that caught me by surprise.

“What the f**k is so funny?” I asked looking at him like he had lost his mind.

“Dude, you got it bad. So f**king bad you can’t even talk straight!” Jeff said as he laughed his ass off and I just stood there in stunned silence.

“You don’t think I didn’t notice the two you staring at each other all afternoon? Or the fact that Ellie was devastated by what that f**ker did to her but five minutes after she saw you she was pretty much like, Ryan who?” Jefferson said as he let out another laugh.

“Wait, I’m so f**king confused because Ellie has always been off limits. Dude you told me once you would cut off my balls if I ever so much as looked wrong at her. Are you trying to set me up for something here? I mean, if you want a fight we can just head to the gym and duke it out Jeff. Fuck man don’t play around with me like this.” I practically begged him. Yeah.….something was not right here. I don’t f**king beg anyone for anything.

“Listen Gunner, you’re my best friend. You’re like a brother to me. I would lay my life down for you and I know you would do the same for me. If I was ever going to trust anyone with my sister it would be you dude.” Jeff said has he put his hand on my shoulder.

Just f**king great….here was my best friend trusting me with his sister and all I was trying to do was calm the erection I got every time I was around her.

“Umm…. Jeff I need to be honest with you. I think I’m attracted to your sister. I mean I would never disrespect you or Ellie in anyway. If you tell me right now to back off and never look at her again, dude I will do it. It would be hard because I’m pretty sure your sister has me tied up in knots and I’m a bit confused by this entire thing but, I would do it for you Jeff.” I said as I ran my hands through my hair waiting for Jeff’s reaction to my admission of being attracted to his little sister.

“Gunner, Ellie had a pretty f**ked up childhood thanks to my mom. She pretty much told her she was useless just like she did me. In Ellie’s mind she will never be good enough for anyone. I only ask that you give her time. If she ends up having feelings for you then just see where it goes. Just keep in mind that she is innocent, very innocent and best friend or not, you hurt her, then I hurt you.” Jeff said as he gave my shoulder a much harder squeeze.

“Jeff you know I would rather die than disappointment you man. I promise you that. I promise to take care of her whether it turns out we are just friends or it becomes more than that. Always dude.”

Jeff gave me a hard ass slap on the back and we started for the door.

“Good to know Gun…..good to know! I’d hate to have to beat the shit out of my best friend. Now, let’s go see how she is settling in shall we?” Jeff said as he turned to head into the house.

My heart started to beat faster and I was not sure if I was more anxious to see Ellie in my house or by the fact that I pretty much just got Jeff’s blessings. Man, this day just keeps more interesting as it goes on. What the hell else could happen?

As we walked into the house Jeff called out for Ellie. She came from down the hallway and had her hair pulled up in a pony tail and had changed into a pair of Jeff’s sweats and a UT tee shirt. I had never seen anyone so goddamn sexy in my life. I had to walk to the kitchen to adjust the damn hard on I was getting…again! I think my dick has gotten hard more just this afternoon then it has all f**king year.

“Hey honey, how are you feeling?” Jefferson asked as he walked up to Ellie.

“I guess I am okay. I think the meds are kicking in ‘cause I am really tired.” Ellie said with a yawn.

“Let me go put this in my room and grab a few things out of my room. I really hope you don’t mind Ellie but I had plans for tonight and I’ve blown this girl off three times already. I can’t back out again. Gunner offered to stay home and help out if you need anything.” Jeff said has he walked back to his bedroom.

“Oh, umm, yeah that is totally fine Jefferson. I don’t need to be babysat though.” Ellie said as she watched Jeff go to his room and grab a change of clothes and head to the shower. I heard Jeff tell Ellie he knew she didn’t need a baby sitter then he hollered down the hall he was taking a quick shower.

I was still in the kitchen so I grabbed a beer out of the fridge. “Gunner listen, please don’t stay home on my account. I’m really fine. I think I just need to eat something and lie down and rest for a while. I’m sure I will fall asleep really fast.” Ellie said as she looked everywhere except at me. She really was innocent and damn she was beautiful.

“Don’t be ridiculous Ellie; I have no plans for this evening. I was planning on just chilling and watching a movie or two. Are you hungry? We haven’t been to the store but I can run and get you something. You probably should eat since you are taking the pain medicine sweetheart.”

She looked at me for the first time since she came out of the bedroom and her face instantly went red. My breath caught in my throat. Her eyes just held mine for what seemed like forever before she finally talked.

“I am kind of hungry. Oh gosh though, I hate to even ask you I’m so embarrassed. Um, I’m sure Jefferson has time to run and get me something.” She said as she was about to turn and go ask him through the bathroom door.

“NO! Really I’ll go get it. I’m hungry myself and I haven’t eaten since breakfast. Let me go run and grab it and I’ll be back in no time. Just let Jeff know I ran out to get us something to eat.” I yelled as I raced out the door.

I knew exactly what I would get her. I remember Jeff saying one time if she had her pick of anywhere to eat this would be the place. As I jumped in my truck and fired it up I could not help but smile. There was just something about that girl……..

Chapter Five

Ellie…..

Holy shit! I had never seen a guy rush out the door as fast as Gunner did. The moment he heard me say I was hungry he practically jumped over the bar and offered to go get food! I had to giggle. There was just something about him…….what was it?

I mean this morning I woke up with a boyfriend and tonight I’m having fantasies about my brother’s best friend. What the hell was wrong with this picture? Maybe it’s because I know he is Jefferson’s friend. I’ve always been kept away from them so maybe it’s just the fact the Jefferson is okay with it that has me attracted to the guy? Who knows?

I walked up to a book shelf and saw a picture of both Jefferson and Gunner. Funny, I’ve never seen this picture before. They were both in their swimsuits and it looked like they were at the coast. I was going to have to wipe the drool from my mouth if I kept staring at Gunner like that. Hot damn he had a nice body. His tribal tattoo was gorgeous. Hmmm? Wonder if I’ll ever get to see it in person? I started to feel a dull ache between my legs and had to press them together to make it stop.

“That picture was taken this past spring break in Port A” Jefferson said has he walked up behind me.

Startled that I had just been caught staring at Gunner’s picture I quickly put it down and turned around and smiled. “You sure are one handsome fella Jefferson! I bet y’all had girls all over you down there.” I said as a way to divert him from what I was doing.

Jefferson threw his head back and laughed. “Nope, well don’t get me wrong, there were a few sluts that tried to make their way back to our condo! We couldn’t be bothered with most of the girls down there though. Most of them are just hoes.”

“Well gesh thanks for that. If you haven’t forgotten Ari and I went to Port A for a few days during spring break so are you calling us hoes?” I raised my eyebrows up at him, waiting for his answer.

“Now come on Ells, I would never ever say you were like those girls. Ari now….she is another story.” Jefferson said has he let out a laugh and walked into the kitchen and got out a beer.

“Hey! That is my best friend! She’s not a slut. I’ll have you know she has never even had…..” I stopped myself suddenly before I just announced to my brother that Ari was still a virgin. With the way their relationship had been lately he didn’t need any more to use against her. Jefferson stopped his beer at his lips and tilted his head. Oh shit….a smile slowly came across his face.

“So, squirt is still a virgin is she? HUH? This is news. This could be very informative news indeed!” He let out a gruff laugh.

“Jefferson Michael Johnson, so help me God if you even hint to her that you know I will never talk to you again. EVER!” I said as I got up and started poking his massive chest.

He just laughed and rubbed the top of my head like I was a child. “Don’t worry honey; her secret is safe with me!”

That reminded me….. I remembered Jefferson’s and Ari’s strange exchanges all day.

“Speaking of Ari, what was going on with you two today?” Jefferson stopped dead in his tracks and turned to look at me.

“What are you talking about? Nothing is going on between us. Why would you even ask that? I mean she is, well she’s just Ari.” Jefferson said to me with a shrug of his shoulders. The stricken look on his face was like I just asked him to solve the problem of world hunger.