“Yes,” she whispered back.
“But I won’t do it in my truck or in my parents’ house. I want it to be perfect for you. ”
She grabbed on to my shirt and took a deep breath. “Amanda’s in Austin this weekend, staying at her parents’ house. She has to go see Brad and meet with his counselor. We could, um…well, we could go and stay the night at my house after Luckenbach. Then, you could head to your apartment in the morning, like you planned,” she said with a twinkle in her eyes.
When I smiled at her, her face lit up like Christmas morning.
I love this girl so much. “It’s a date, princess,” I said before I leaned down and kissed her.
Chapter Twenty-One
I watched as Ellie bent down and kissed Alex for the fourth time.
“Ellie, sweetheart, let’s go!” I called out.
Grams and Gramps started laughing.
“Ellie, I raised two boys, darling. I’ve got this,” Grams said before she kissed Ellie on the cheek.
Ellie skipped over to my truck. I opened the door, and she jumped in.
“Let’s go cut a rug, Mr. Mathews!” she said with a smile.
After we parked and got out of the truck, I heard Ari call out, “Ellie!”
Ellie’s face brightened as she waved at Ari.
“Hey, bitch! Dropping the baby off two days in a row! Aren’t you brave?” Ari said as she winked at me.
“Shut up, Ari. You’re gonna make me turn around and go back and get her,” Ellie said as she pouted her lips.
I grabbed her and pulled her chin up to me. “I’ve arranged to have Grams keep Alex all night,” I said as I winked at her.
“Really?” Ellie gave me a wicked look.
“Six weeks, baby. ” I captured her lips with mine.
“Oh, for Christ’s sake, I don’t need to hear that shit!” Jeff grabbed Ari’s hand and headed into the Luckenbach dance hall.
Ellie and I both started laughing.
Once we got in, I spotted Josh and Heather on the dance floor. I smiled as I watched the two of them. When Ellie had told me that Heather was pregnant, my heart just broke. Heather had gone to the doctor yesterday morning and confirmed it all.
“Ells, do you think it’s a good idea for Heather to not tell Josh about the baby?” I asked.
Ellie turned and looked at me with such sadness in her eyes. “Ari and I talked about it with her. She wants to wait just a little longer. With Josh getting little bits and pieces of his memory back, she’s holding out hope that he’ll get it all back. ” She turned and looked at them both dancing.
Kenny Chesney’s “Don’t Happen Twice” was playing, and Josh had the biggest smile on his face.
I smiled and let out a laugh. “That boy is head over heels in love with her. ”
Ellie reached up and took my face in her hands. “He is…just like I’m head over heels in love with you. I love you, Gunner. ”
I leaned down and kissed her so softly. God, she tastes like heaven.
“How sweet are you two?”
I pulled my lips away and looked behind me to see Victoria standing there. Oh fucking great.