“I know what you’re doing. ”
I let out a small laugh. “What is it exactly I’m doing, Ells?”
Ellie pulled back and looked at me.
“You’re trying to protect me from something, but you don’t have to. I knew something was up a few days ago. I could see the difference in Ari, and when she asked me to drop her off at her mom’s for a few hours, I figured she was going to the doctor. Then, when I met her at the bridal store I could see how happy she was even though she tried so hard to hide it. ”
I brought her in closer to me, tightening my hold on her. I kissed her on the head. “Ells, I love you so much. ”
“I love you, too. It’s really okay, Gunner. I mean, maybe it’s just not meant to be right now. I think I’m just going to concentrate on finishing up my online classes and mastering Emma’s cooking and gardening skills. ”
The song came to a stop, and Flo Rida’s “Club Can’t Handle Me” started. I saw Ari and Jeff on the dance floor.
I asked Ellie if she wanted to sit down and she said no. She was in the mood to dance and just have fun.
I loved to dance with this girl. The way she moved her body was enough to make me want to take her back to The Driskill Hotel and make love to her again, just like on our wedding night.
After dancing to a few more songs, Ellie and I headed back to the table.
Just as we got there, I saw Josh and Lynda walking up. He looked so fucking unhappy. Why he stayed with my cousin was beyond me. I’d told him she was high maintenance and a snob. He’d been drunk the other night and had told me that he’d only slept with her twice. That, had shocked the shit out of me.
Lynda came bouncing over and gave Ellie and me a hug. Then she told not asked, told Josh to go get her a drink. When he went turned around to head over to the bar, he ran right smack into Heather.
This should be good since neither one of them has seen each other since July. That douche-twat Jerry was standing behind Heather. I’d already told Ellie how I felt about him, and no matter how many times we all had tried to tell Heather he was cheating on her, she would not listen to us.
“Shit, I’m sorry, Heather. I didn’t see you there. ” Josh looked Heather up and down, and then he noticed Jerry standing behind her.
I hadn’t seen Josh tense up like that since our football days when he was ready to kick someone’s ass. I started to slowly make my way over when Lynda piped in.
“Josh! Please! I’m dying here of thirst. ”
Josh looked back at Heather and smiled. “You look really good, Heather. ”
“Thank you Josh, so do you. ”
Josh nodded and looked up at Jerry.
“Josh, so good to see you again. ” Jerry held out his hand to shake Josh’s.
Josh just glared at him. He moved around Heather and made his way to the bar.
Well, hell, this should be an interesting night. I looked out at Jeff and Ari, and they were happily dancing with each other. As long as those two are happy and Ells is happy, I decided not to worry too much about Josh and Heather and their fucked-up feelings for each other.
As I watched the night go on, it seemed like the only person drinking was Josh. I was having another damn déjà vu.
Ellie, Ari and Heather were all on the dance floor dancing to Christina Aguilera’s “My Girls. ” I was getting pissed as I watched the numerous guys trying to dance with them. Ellie looked over once and smiled at me. I was giving her thirty minutes, and then I was taking her to the hotel. I glanced over at Jeff. He couldn’t pull his eyes away from Ari.
He looked over at me, and I just smiled and winked at him.
Jeff’s smile faded.
/> “You fucking bastard. You made reservations at The Driskill didn’t you? You mother-fucking-son-of-a- bitchin’-romantic-ass-bastard. ”
I started to laugh. “Holy hell, Jeff, you’ve been hanging around Ari way too long. Her cursing has worn off on you. ”
“I’m taking to Ari to Paris. ”
I sat up, narrowing my eyes at him. “You can’t do that! I was going to take Ellie. ”