Shouldn't Want You (A Brothers Best Friend Romance) Alayna & Gunner #1

3. Gunner- Age 18

I'm sitting here on the couch with my legs bouncing up and down. Trying to act like I'm paying attention to the football game. Why did they let her go out with that douchebag. Why did I care so much? That's a question I really don't want to look for the answer to. I've known Alayna and Travis since we were babies. We grew up together. Alayna was always following us around, trying to do everything we did. I always thought of her as a little sister.

Alayna and their mom, Helen,were in a bad car accident a few years ago, they got hit by a drunk driver coming home from one of our football games one night. Helen died instantly. Alayna was in the ICU for a few weeks and it was touch and go for a while. From that night on Travis and their Dad, Craig, were extremely protective of her.

When she came home from the hospital she was different. She was quieter. She had nightmares almost every night. On the nights that I was sleeping over, I could hear her from Travis' room. She would be whimpering and crying in her sleep. I would sneak out of his room and go to her room and hold her until she calmed down. I had to sneak out and back into Travs room before anyone would notice. That wasn't something I wanted to explain, it was innocent but I knew they wouldn't see it that way.

Me and Alayna became closer because of this. It was our little secret. Eventually she went to therapy and stopped having nightmares. We would still meet up when everyone else was asleep and just stay up all night talking. Sometimes we would just lay there, not saying anything. Whatever she needed from me, is what I gave her.

My thoughts go to the bonfire. It's takes everything I have in me to not get into my truck and make sure she is ok. Maybe I'll just drive by and see what's going on. God, I sound pathetic. As if he can read mind, Travis looks my way and raises his eye brow. "What's wrong with you man?". It's not like I can tell him the truth. So I lie. " I don't know man, I guess I'm just tired. Im probably just going to head home."

I wanted to be here when Laynie got home but it's probably for the best that I'm not. I might do or say something I will regret. Im walking to my truck when I get a text message. When I see her name flash on the screen, my heart speeds up. Why is she texting me if she's on a date. Not that I mind but something must be wrong.

Laynie:
Hey, can you come pick me up? And I really need you to not tell Dad or Travis.

My stomach drops. Something happened if she is needing me to come get her. She hasn't even been gone very long. I swear if that little prick did anything to her, I'll kill him. I decide to call her instead of texting. I need to hear her voice and make sure she is alright. She picks up on the first ring.

"Laynie, what's wrong? Are you ok? Where is that jackass? Did he do something? I swear I'm going to kill him." I ramble before she stops me. "Geez Gun, take a breather. I'm fine. I just don't want to be here anymore and I don't really want to walk all the way back into town."

I know I'm an ass hole when I say "If everything is fine, then why can't your date bring you home?"

"Look you don't have to be an ass about it, if you don't want to come get me then just say it. I will call an Uber or something if it's a big deal"

"Your not calling a fucking Uber Laynie. I'm already on my way to get you. I'll be there in a few minutes." After I hang up, I try to calm myself down. Something obviously happened and I don't want to make the situation worse by being a jerk.

My hands are white while gripping the steering wheel when I turn into the parking lot. It's just now starting to get dark but I can see her standing under a tree. I also see that jackass standing beside her and they look like they are having a heated conversation. She tries to walk away but his hand comes out and snatches her by the elbow, turning her around. I see red. Before I know it, I'm out of my truck and on my way over there. She must hear me coming because the turns her head and her eyes are huge and pleading with me to not lose my temper.

Yeah, that's not gonna happen.

"Take your fucking hands off of her" I growl. Im about a foot taller than him and about 60 pounds heavier. So when I stand over him he has to look up. He's got balls, I'll give him that. He doesn't back down. But he does let go of her. Smart.

Alayna, finally out of his grasp, stands between the two of us.

"Move Alayna, now" I spit out as she put a hand on each of our chest trying to push us further apart. Jackass just has a smirk on his face that I fully intend to wipe off.

"No, Gunner. It's not worth it. Can you please just take me home. Please." She pleads and damnit, I make the mistake of looking into her big blue eyes. She got me. She's the only one that can ever calm me down when I'm ready to blow. I'm known for my temper on the football field and I don't ever back down from a fight off the field either. All Alayna ever has to do is get me to look her in the eyes and I'm done. She's like a siren. No matter how many times she has been told to not get in the middle of two men fighting, she is stubborn and doesn't listen to a word I say. I back away and take her hand and lead her to my truck.

We just sit there for a few minutes before she says " Y'all were right, is that what you wanted to hear?". " I shouldn't have went out with him. He only asked me out as a bet. If he could get through you and Travis and get me on a date then some of his teammates have to wash his dirty uniform for the season". "How pathetic right? All I'm worth is someone's dirty laundry."

When I look at her she has tears threatening to spill over and my heart feels like it's in my throat. I can't take it when she cries. Night after night holding her while she cried killed me. But watching her almost cry over some jerk who didn't deserve to be her first real date, made me make my next terrible decision.

When I pull out of the parking lot and she sees that I am not heading in the direction of her house, she gives me a confused look and asks "Gunner, my house is the other way, where are we going?" I look at over at her and say " You deserve to have a fairytale first date Alayna, so that's what I'm going to give you."

"You're taking me on a date?" She asks me with her brows furrowed.

I look over at her again and smile "That's exactly what I'm doing."