“He told me he wants to start off as friends. I don’t know if I can just be his friend, Jeff. I mean, of course, I will, but…even earlier…shit, I couldn’t help myself. I kissed him!” she said as she covered her face with her free hand.
“Heather, just try your best to do what he asks. If he needs time to adjust to all of this, give him time. Deep down inside of him, he knows he loves you. We just need him to remember it. ”
“Yeah…I know. Thanks so much, Jeff,” Heather said with a small smile. “Thank you for bringing me to the hospital to see him. I love you and Ari so much. ”
“I know, sweetheart. Let’s head on back, okay? I’m sure Josh is worried that he upset you. ” I stood up, still holding her hand in mine.
Gunner and I were quiet almost the whole way back to Mason.
I was still trying to process that he’d slept with Victoria. Fuck me.
Then, I thought back to a party when I’d come close to hooking up with her. Damn. How fucked-up would that have been?
“Dude, I still can’t believe you slept with Victoria. Why didn’t you say something to Josh when he started going out with her?” I asked as I looked over at Gunner.
“Because it was Josh, and I figured he was going to sleep with her and move on. How the hell was I supposed to know he’d end up dating her? Besides, I only hooked up with her once, and I was drunk when it happened. ”
I shook my head and smiled. Glad those fucking days are over.
For some reason, I couldn’t wait to get home to Ari and Luke. I glanced over to see how fast Gunner was going.
“I know, dude. I want to get home to Ellie and Alex, too. ” Gunner smiled.
“Jesus H. Christ. It must be in your blood. How the hell did you know what I was thinking?” I asked.
We both started to laugh, and Gunner shrugged his shoulders.
“Dude, I gotta know. Where the fuck do you come up with all that sappy shit you throw out there?”
“What the hell are you talking about? I just say what’s in my heart, that’s all,” Gunner said with a wink.
“Okay, dude, like that shit. You just say what’s in your heart? Who says that?”
“I do, and my sappy shit makes your sister happy. ” He quickly glanced over toward me with a smile and a wink.
Bastard.
“Did Ellie tell you about the visit with Brad and Amanda?”
Gunner shook his head. “She just sent me a text and said one word—awkward. ”
“Yeah, Ari sent me a text, too. She said she pretty much dug holes in her hands with her nails to keep from saying anything to him. ”
“What the fuck do you think is going on, Jeff? I mean, come on. Do you really see Brad saying that shit to Amanda?”
“No, but he’s been acting weird lately. All this traveling out of town, and Smitty swears that Brad was with another girl. I mean, he loves Amanda so much. None of it makes any sense, Gunner. None of it. ” I looked out the window.
“Dude, I think we need to have a chat with our buddy Brad. ”
I glanced back to look at Gunner. His jaw was set, and I knew how he felt. My heart was breaking for Amanda. She was four months pregnant, and her husband had told her she had to hide it and then give up the baby for adoption. Yeah, none of it makes a lick of sense.
Just then, my cell phone rang.
Holy fuck, speak of the devil. I looked at Gunner. “It’s Brad. ”
“Hello?” I answered.
“Jeff, I need to talk to you and Gunner right away!” Brad said in a panicked voice.