Desired by Kelly Elliott
Jack responded, “We are for sure a go. I’ve got you on my calendar, so don’t worry. I’ll make sure your sister has some good tunes spinning at her graduation party.”
“Perfect. Thanks, Jack.”
“No problem. I’ll see you soon.”
Hitting End, I couldn’t help but smile. Ellie was finally getting out of high school and into college.
I pulled up to my mother’s house and let out a deep sigh. I only prayed she’d stay sober long enough to make it to Ellie’s graduation. The likeliness of that happening was pretty slim to none.
My phone rang.
Ellie.
“Hey, I just pulled up to Mom’s. You ready for dinner?”
“I’m at Ari’s. Can you pick me up there?”
Closing my eyes, I counted to five. The last place I wanted to go was Ari’s.
“Sure. I’ll be right there.”
“Great! Thanks!”
The drive to Ari’s house only took a few minutes. When I pulled down the driveway, I saw Ellie and Ari standing out front. They were talking to two guys. Ryan was one, and I didn’t know the other guy.
I shifted my truck into park and got out, shooting a look at Ryan first and then swinging my eyes over to the other guy.
“Interrupting something?” I asked.
Ellie laughed. “No. Ryan stopped by to introduce his cousin, Thomas.”
“Trying to see if we can talk the girls into a double date tonight,” Ryan said with a shit-eating grin.
My icy stare darted over to Ari. She was dressed in shorts and a black tank top. Her hair was pulled up, and a touch of makeup covered her eyes.
She was beautiful.
And that little bastard Thomas was eye fucking the hell out of her.
Not tonight, buddy. Not tonight.
“Sorry, Ryan, I’ve already claimed them both for the evening.”
Ryan stared at me like I was insane. I could see Ari stand up a little straighter too, like this was news to her. And it was, considering I’d just invited her along without even asking.
“You’ve claimed them?” He laughed.
I took a step closer to him. “Yeah. I’ve claimed them. It’s my fucking sister and her friend, and I’m taking them both to dinner. You got a problem with that?”
Like the little pussy he was, Ryan took a few steps away from me.
Ellie stepped between us. “I already told Ryan I had plans tonight.” She turned and gave Ryan a look of warning.
“After dinner?” Ryan asked.
“We’re going to a movie,” I quickly said.
Shit. I was going to have to remember to text Brad and let him know I wasn’t coming over for poker night.
“We are?” Ellie asked, excitement in her voice. I loved hanging out with her, and I knew she felt the same way. We didn’t do it nearly enough, so I wasn’t too bothered about missing poker night.
Ryan looked beyond pissed, and so did his cousin.
“Ari, can I give you a call tomorrow?” he asked.
“I thought you were leaving town tomorrow,” she said.
“Well, I am, but we can still talk on the phone. Get to know each other so when I come back into town we can go out.”
“Get to know each other?” Ari asked, her eyebrows arched.
“Yeah, you know.” His brows wiggled, and Ari nearly choked on her own spit.
The anger building inside of me was insane. I knew exactly what he was hinting around to.
Who hints around for phone sex with a girl he just met?
Dick.
I wanted to walk over to Ari, pull her into my arms, and kiss the living shit out of her right in front of this little prick. Tell him there was so fucking way he’d ever hear her moaning or even have his hands on her.
I didn’t have to, though, because this was Ari. She was capable of handling herself.
When she let out a chuckle, I knew what was coming next.
“Yeah, I don’t think so, champ. I’m not interested in a relationship with anyone, especially a telephone one. Not my kind of kinky fun, but hey, if that’s the only way you can get a girl to come is over the phone, then more power to you.”
When she gave him a wink, I nearly lost it laughing. The guy was standing there staring at her like he couldn’t believe what she had just said. I had to admit, he was okay-looking. Older than Ryan by a few years.
“That’s not what I meant,” he replied, backtracking his words.
“Really? Are you sure about that?” Ari asked.
Ryan cleared his throat. He knew Ari well enough to know he needed to get his cousin out of harm’s way before she lost her shit.
“Listen, we’re going to take off. Enjoy dinner and a movie with your brother. I’ll call you later tonight.”
Ryan walked up to Ellie and thought twice about kissing her in front of me. He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “Bye, Ellie.”
“See ya later,” Ellie replied.
Ryan and Thomas didn’t say goodbye to me or Ari.
I turned and watched them walk to a car I was guessing was Ryan’s. I knew it was intimidating for me to be staring them down, but I didn’t give a shit.
They pulled out, and I faced Ellie. “I don’t like him, Ellie.”
“So you’ve told me, Jefferson. A million and one times.”
“For once, I agree with dickhead here,” Ari said.
“Why thanks, Squirt.”
She trembled in anger. “Do. Not. Call. Me. That!”
“I thought you liked it,” I replied with an innocent shrug.
“Fuck you, Jeff. You’re an ass.”
Spinning on her heels, she headed to her front door.
“Wait! I thought you were going to dinner with us,” I shouted.
Ari turned and narrowed her eyes at me. “I thought you just said that to make them leave. I didn’t know you were being serious.”
My stomach did a weird dip. Did she really honestly think I didn’t want her going? Damn, I’ve been acting like such a dick to her. I hated doing it, but it was the only way to keep her pissed off at me and at arm’s length.
“Of course he was, Ari!” Ellie said.
I smiled. A real genuine smile. “Yes, I was being serious. Let’s all go grab something to eat and then hit up a movie.”
The smile that spread across Ari’s face nearly brought me to my knees. She deserved a guy so much better than me.
“Let me go change my shirt, and then I’ll be ready!”
“Hurry! I’m starving!” Ellie cried out to Ari, who had retreated back into her house.
“That was nice of you to invite her. Are you calling a truce finally?” Ellie asked.
I chuckled. “Hell no. I love seeing her get all mad. It’s the highlight of my day.”
The corner of Ellie’s mouth rose into a smirk. “Seeing her is the highlight of your day, or making her hate you is the highlight of your day?”
There was no way I could admit it was the first one, so I didn’t. I acted like the dick I was.
“Ha. The second option, please.”
“Right,” Ellie stated, not believing me for one second.
It was time to steer this in another direction. “Where do y’all want to go eat?”
Ellie looked up in thought for a few minutes. “How about Shady Grove? They’ll have live music there tonight.”
“Sounds good to me. I could go for one of their hamburgers.”
Ari came bouncing back down the stairs of her front porch. “Ready! Where are we going?”
“Shady Grove,” I said, opening the front and back door of my truck for them to both get in.
“Oh, mother of Mary, I want a hamburger with cheese and their fries!”
I couldn’t help but smile. Ari wasn’t like other girls. She didn’t pick at a salad and pass on dessert. She was the type of girl who ate what she wanted. I knew she ran and worked out a lot, and her body showed it. She wasn’t stick-thin and had sexy curves. It was enough to drive
“A girl after my own heart.”
Ari paused for a second and looked back at me. For one brief second, I swore she smiled. Then with her lip snarled up in disgust, she shot me a yeah, right look.
“You wish, dickwad.”
Shutting the door, I smiled and mumbled under my breath, “Yeah, I wish.”
Chapter Twenty-One – Jeff
Reaching over, I hit the play button and brought my favorite song to life.
“Really, Jeff?” Gunner asked, his voice laced with frustration. All I did was smile back to him. I knew the song drove both him and Ellie crazy, but it was my jam.
“What are you wanting to get at McBride’s?” I asked as Gunner turned the music down some.
“Remington Model 870.”
I nodded. “Nice. We going to plan a trip to the ranch on opening day of dove season?”
“Yeah, if you want. I know Gramps would love to get him some birds. Grams makes the best bacon-wrapped doves you’ll ever have.”
“Sounds like a solid plan to me. Dude, I cannot believe we only have one more year of college,” I shouted over the song I had just turned back up.
“No doubt! I’m glad this year is over. Man, this past year kicked my ass,” Gunner said.
My phone vibrated on the console. Glancing down, I saw it was Ellie. My heart dropped since I knew she was in school and there would be no reason for her to be trying to reach me. Unless she was dismissed early.
I reached over and turned the music down. “I’m getting a text from Ellie. That’s weird.”
After pulling into a gas station, I read the text.
Ellie: I really need you to come and pick me up. Please.
Fuck. Something was wrong if she was asking me to come pick her up.
“Shit, we need to swing by and pick up Ellie. Something must be wrong if she wants to leave school early,” I said, making a U-turn.
Gunner let out a fake girly gasp. “Holy shit. You’re actually going to allow me to meet your baby sister? Let me write this down. I get to meet the ever-baby sister of Jefferson Johnson.”
Reaching over, I punched Gunner on the arm as I let out a laugh. “Shut the fuck up, douchebag! Hey, I’m sorry, I know you wanted to stop by McBride’s and look at that gun.”
With a shrug, he replied, “No worries. I can take a look at it later today or tomorrow. What do you think is going on? I mean, she never asks you to pick her up early.”
Concern coursed through my veins. “I don’t know. She seemed happy the other day knowing everything was set for her scholarship and she’d be heading to UT this fall. Ellie’s worked her ass off in school. I’m really proud of her.”
My mind started racing with different reasons why she wanted to leave school early and not finish out her last day.
“I’m sure she has, Jeff. It’s probably nothing. Did she get a full ride?”
“No. The money from our grandmother’s estate should help cover the additional costs that her scholarship won’t. I had it invested, and it’s done really well.”
Glancing at my speed, I pushed on the gas a little more and picked it up. “Hey, do me a favor and send her a text from my phone giving her an ETA of five minutes, will ya?”
Gunner picked up my phone and cleared his throat. With a quick glance his way, I swear I saw his hands shaking.
Strange. What’s wrong with him?
Fifteen minutes later we were still sitting in the parking lot. Ellie hadn’t answered any of the texts I had sent her.
“Shit. I have a bad feeling.” I strained my neck to look toward the side entrance. “Come on. Let’s just go in and see what’s taking her so long.”
Gunner followed me toward the entrance. “Do you think this is a good idea, going into a high school, Jeff? I mean, don’t you have to do the whole check-in process so you don’t freak people out?”
Gunner was practically jogging next to me to keep up.
“Nah, I know where her locker is. They never lock this side door. I use it sometimes to bring Ellie stuff to eat during her off period.”
We walked in, and kids were everywhere.
Jesus, I don’t miss these days.
As we started walking, I looked to see if Ellie was at her locker, and I quickly spotted her. She looked upset. Really upset.
“What the fuck?” I whispered, taking off toward her.
Once I reached her, I said, “Ellie, what in the hell is going on? I got your text, honey.” When she turned, I heard Gunner inhale a deep breath next to me. I didn’t have time to shoot him a warning look. The one that said remember she’s my sister before you start drooling all over yourself. My eyes landed on hers, and I knew in an instant she had been crying. Glancing down, I saw she was holding on to her hand, and it looked red.
I was going to kill that motherfucker.
“Ryan,” I growled.
Lifting my gaze, I instantly found him. It only took me two steps to get to him and push him against the lockers.
“What the fuck did you do to my sister, you asshole? I’ll kill you if you’ve hurt her!”
I was about to let my fists pound into this little bastard when Ellie tried to pull me back. She whimpered, and my anger grew even more. I reached my fists back, but someone stopped me from punching the little prick.
“Jeff, take it easy, man. Calm down, dude. He’s not worth going to jail for.”
Gunner’s calm voice was able to settle me slightly. The only thing I wanted to do was rip this kid’s head off.
As Gunner pulled me away from Ryan, I glanced back over my shoulder and said, “I’m going to kill that bastard if he hurt her in any way, Gunner.”
Gunner pulled me harder. “Come on before you get thrown in jail.
“Oh, Ells! Jeff, we need to get Ellie to the hospital like right now!”
Ari’s voice pulled my angry stare off Ryan, and now I was staring at Ari, trying to figure out why she said Ellie needed to go to the hospital. It felt like everything was spinning, my anger so ramped up I wanted to punch something. Or someone.
“Jeff, listen to me. Your sister’s hurt. We need to get her to the doctor. Don’t worry about this jerk. We can take care of him later.”
Gunner’s angry gaze looked past me to Ryan. The kid better be shaking in his damn boots, because Gunner looked like he was ready to lay into him even more than I was.
With my jaw clenched tight, I pointed to Ryan. “I’ll be back for you.”
Someone pulled on my arm, forcing me back toward the exit door.
I reached for Ellie’s other hand and walked with her and Ari toward my truck. The anger inside of me was growing by the second, and I needed to know why Ellie had punched Ryan.
“Jeff, stop dragging her,” Ari said.
“I’m not dragging her, Ari.”
“I’m fine, y’all,” Ellie stated.
“We need to get some ice on her hand and wrist,” Ari added, ignoring Ellie’s comment that she was okay.
“Arianna, I know what the fuck I’m doing.”
“Do not call me by my full name! You know I hate that.”
Gunner ran up to the truck and handed Ellie a bag of ice.
“Thank you, ah, um, Gunner.”
I stared at my sister. She had barely gotten the words out. Great . . . she was captivated by his looks. I knew that was going to happen. It was the whole reason I kept her away from Gunner in the first place.
When he flashed her his smile, I knew my poor sister had just forgotten all about douchebag Ryan.
“No problem, Ellie. Try to keep it above your heart, sweetheart, and here, take these Advil.”
Getting into the front seat, I was about to say something when Ari introduced herself to Gunner.
“Hey, I’m Ari, by the way. Ellie’s best friend.”
Gunner gave Ari a smile and looked back to my sister. Holy shit. He was just as taken by Ellie as she was him. I tried not to smile, remembering I was supposed
He leaned in and said something about getting her to the doctor. When Ellie’s cheeks blushed, I knew my predictions were spot-on.
Damn, I’m good.
Ellie muttered some words, and Gunner got into the front seat. We exchanged looks and I wanted to smile, but I was still pissed off at Ryan.
As we pulled out, I heard Ellie talking to Ari and telling her she was dead wrong about something. Ari must have picked up on the instant connection between Ellie and Gunner like I had and voiced it to Ellie.
“Ari’s dead wrong about what, Ellie?” I asked.
With a sigh, Ellie replied, “Nothing. She’s delusional, that’s all. She is seeing things that are clearly not there.”
My eyes met Ari’s in the rearview mirror. She looked fucking beautiful . . . like always. I wished I could make her cheeks blush like Gunner just did with Ellie. I’d give anything to be able to have her look at me like Ellie had with Gunner a few moments ago.
But she doesn’t. And I’m no Gunner. He could charm the pants off a nun.
“Well, whatever crazy shit Ari is going on about, I don’t care. I want to know right now what in the hell happened between you and Ryan.”
“Dickwad,” Ari mumbled as Gunner stared at me. I knew he was wondering why I was acting like a jerk toward Ari. I didn’t know why in the fuck I did it myself. It was the only thing I could do to keep myself from doing or saying something I knew I would regret. If I kept Ari mad at me, there was no chance I’d act on my real feelings. The last thing I would want to do was make a move on her and ruin our friendship or, worse yet, her and Ellie’s friendship. Ari had always been there for Ellie, sometimes even more than I had.
Ellie let out a long, deep sigh and started her story.
As I drove, I tightened my grip on the steering wheel, plotting how I was going to hurt that little bastard Ryan.
Chapter Twenty-Two – Gunner
I leaned against the wall and studied Ellie. Her beautiful blue eyes were my favorite thing about her. No. No, it was her smile. Her eyes were filled with pain right now, and a few times she looked like she was about to cry. It gutted me as much as it did Jeff and Ari.
Her eyes lifted to meet mine again, and I smiled, bringing out another smile from her. It hadn’t escaped me she was trying to look everywhere but at me. I wasn’t helping by standing directly across from her. A move I did on purpose so I could study her a little better.