Wanted by Kelly Elliott Page A

head that she will never be good enough for a guy. She thinks her fate is to be alone. Like my mother.”
    Jeff to ok another swig of beer and lo ok ed at me. Tears filled his eyes and I was stunned. In the three years I had known this man I had never once saw him cry, even when he got hurt on the football field.
    “Jeff man you cannot possibly blame yourself for what your mother did or said. You were ten years old for Christ sakes. That is not your fault. You couldn’t save her from every little thing.” I said as a part of me just wanted to go and have a few words with their mother.
    “Gunner, be patient with her. I see how she lo ok s at you and how you lo ok at her. I think she is confused by what she is feeling for you . She told me tonight she is scared, she said she is having feelings for you she never felt for Ryan and she barely even knows you.”
    Holy shit my heart was pounding. She admitted to Jeff she had feelings for me? Okay , where do I go with this? I felt like I was about to get sick to my stomach so I to ok another drink of my beer.
    “Gun , I see the panic on your face dude!” Jeff said with a small laugh.
    “I’m so glad you think this is funny asshole.” I to ok the last swig of my beer and set it on the coffee table. Christ…how did I even begin this with him?
    “Jeff, I have these crazy feeling s for Ellie . I mean shit; I have NEVER felt this way before in my life. First I thought it was just because you know….it was your sister. You know….you want what you can’t have and all. I mean, I literally wanted to beat the shit out of that boyfriend of hers five minutes after I met her. I kept thinking I would do anything to take away her pain while sitting in the urgent care room. I have this insane desire to take care of her. What the fuck is this?” I said as I sat back on the sofa and threw my hands into my air .
    Jeff let out a laugh. “Dude… .. if I could tell you I would. I know that feeling of wanting something so ba d……” Jeff just stopped and star ed off into space.
    “What ’s going on Jeff? Do you have feelings for Ari ?”
    “WHAT?! What the fuck makes you think that! Ari is like a little sister to me. I mean, she is, she is…..um she is annoying as hell. She talks to fucking much and she drives me nuts. The only feelings I have for that girl are feelings of annoyance!” Jeff said as he got up and to ok the two empty bottles of beer to the kitchen garbag e.
    “ Okay , ‘ cause I was a bit surprised at how much you two were going at each other all day. I just got the feeling there was some um…. .tension the re.” I said as I wiggled my eye brows up and down.
    “Fuck you du de. I had a shitty night and I’ m going to sleep.” Jeff said as he headed to the bathroom.
    “What? Was Rebecca not her normal bubbly cheerleader self tonight?!” I called after him. All I got in return was a middle finger shot in my direction.

 
    CHAPTER Nine
    ELLIE …..
    I w ok e up from a total dead sleep. I sat up confused for a few minutes. Where the hell was I? My heart started to beep rapidly. I lo ok ed around and realized I was in Jeffers on’s room. I lo ok ed down at my hand. I was surprised it did not hurt nearly as much as it did yesterday. I pushed back the covers and walked out into the kitchen. I heard someone and my heart started to flutter. Was it Gunner?
    “Hey there honey! Did you sleep well ?” Jefferson said in a very chipper mood.
    “You must have had a good night last night to be so happy first thing this morning.” I replied back with a yawn. I was NOT a morning person. I sat down at the bar stool on the island.
    Jefferson let out a laugh. “You never were a morning person Ells. And no, my night sucked. I couldn’t wait to get home. Did you have any mor e nightmares?
    “Nope I slept like a b aby. Soooo , what’ s with this date last night? How come it sucked?” I asked as Jefferson handed me a plate of scrambled eggs and a Sunny D . He started to