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

4. Alayna

Butterflies have taken over in my stomach. I'm wringing my hands together in my lap as he pulls in to the parking lot of the fair that's in the next town over. I can't look at him. If I look at him then he will know how stupidly excited I am. This is not at all how I thought this night would go.

He turns off the truck and he turns to look at me. When I don't look at him or say anything, he picks up my moving hands from my lap and holds them until I look at him. When I look up, those big brown eyes pierce me. He has his signature smile directed at me. I know this isn't a "real" date and he is just doing it out of pity but damn if I don't want to pretend for a little while that it is. A real date, with Gunner Matthews. Eeeekk! Taylor is going to FREAK OUT when I tell her about tonight.

I'm still sorting through the thoughts in my head when Gunner clears his throat. He actually looks a little nervous. That's a look I've never seen on Gunner. He is usually always so sure of himself.

"Laynie, when we step out of this truck, it's a real date, got it? This is how a guy should treat you on a date, any less than that then he doesn't deserve you." I nod and he continues " It's a real date, but, when I drop you off back at home, everything goes back to normal and your dad and brother can't know about it. It will be hard to explain to them and they won't understand. If they ask, you had a great time on your date and that's all they need to know."

I nod again. "That's fine with me, I don't want them to know how my actual date ended. I'm embarrassed enough with you knowing."

He nods and gets out of the truck. He comes around to my door and opens it and holds out his hand to help me get down. When he shuts the door behind me, he takes my chin in his hand and forces me to look at him. "There is no reason for you to be embarrassed Alayna. Jared is a douchebag, it has nothing to do with you." Then he threads his fingers with mine and leads me into the fair grounds.

He refused to let me pay for anything. He bought all of the food, he paid for tickets for every ride and he even won me a few stuffed animals. Honestly, it was perfect. We laughed and talked and flirted. It made it easier to pretend it was a real date when we didn't run in to any one we knew. For a few hours to the eyes of a stranger, we looked and acted like a real couple on their first date together.

By the time we got back to his truck, my cheeks hurt from smiling so much. I had completely forgot about what had happened earlier in the evening. That's the effect that Gunner has on me. I get lost in him and forget about all my problems.

It's not my curfew yet but we decided that he should drop me off before time. It would be less likely that Dad and Travis would be waiting and watching for me to pull up that way.

The drive back home was quiet. He seemed lost in thought but he held my hand. When we pulled up the house, he cut the engine off. He didn't say anything as he got out and came to my side again and opened the door. With my feet planted on the driveway, I turned to him and said " Thank you Gunner, for everything. I know you had better things to do tonight instead of hanging out with me. I just want you to know I really appreciate it."

"I was exactly where I wanted to be tonight Laynie, you have got to stop selling yourself short. Anyone would be lucky to get to spend the evening with you. I'm glad it was me that you text tonight." He starts to turn away and go toward his truck but then he pauses briefly, and he turn back to me. He takes my chin in his hand, his deep chocolate eyes lock on to mine as he looks down at me. He leans in and lightly brushes his lips on mine. He pulls away and I stare in shock. I can't believe that just happened. Not only did Gunner fix my ruined first date, but he also gave me my first kiss.

I ask him " What was that?". He smiles, but it looks sad. " That was how a first date should end. Goodnight Alayna". Then he turns around and gets into his truck and drives away.