Chapter 40
CHAPTER
FORTY
GUNNER
The next morning, I wake before dawn and send Rebel a good morning text.
Birds aren’t even singing yet when I lock my front door, so I don’t expect an answer right away. But I’m still happy to send it.
I wonder if Rebel still sleeps with her mouth sprawling open and her golden hair sprawled around her like she did when we were kids?
I’d give anything to see that.
Actually, I’d give anything to lie next to her and wake up to her beautiful face every morning.
But I’m getting ahead of myself.
Today is our first official day as a couple.
I want to make the most of it. Both our schedules are bound to get busier with the last game of the playoffs right around the corner and construction work soon to be done on The Pink Garage.
A few minutes later, I cruise through empty streets, headed to the arena. The donut shop catches my eye and I make a mental note to swing by after practice. I’ll get Rebel her favorite pink frosted doughnuts and bestow her with a strawberry smoothie as an excuse to see her…
A loud vrooom echoes across the quiet road.
Surprised, I check the rearview mirror.
Chance’s flashy convertible roars into sight and then it zips past me on the way to the arena. My annoying teammate honks and waves from the front seat as he overtakes me and screams past my truck.
Oh, it’s on.
I step on the gas.
Chance and I are neck and neck.
Then I pull slightly ahead.
I blaze through the gates of the stadium, yanking the steering wheel and bringing my car to an abrupt stop as close to the arena’s front doors as I can manage.
Chance jumps out of his Lambo first.
I’m right behind him.
Breaking into an all-out dash, I gain ground until I sprint past Chance. His eyes widen when I crash through the doors and stumble into the arena first.
It’s a narrow victory.
But hey, a win’s a win.
“Did Rebel juice your truck engine? How’d you pass me back there?” Chance grumbles, catching up to me as I stow away my gym bag in the lockers.
“Losers ask how. Winners just win,” I grunt.
“I was barely jogging, but you’re about to pass out. If I’d put in a little more energy, you’d be eating dust, Kinsey,” Chance mocks.
I tuck my exhaustion away, hoping that I’m not as red-faced as I feel. “Try harder next time, McLanely. You’re just too slow,” I taunt.
Chance scowls and that expression alone was worth exerting so much energy.
He struts past me to his locker. “I got to the parking lot first. So technically, I was here before you.”
I shrug out of my hoodie and stuff it into my locker, shaking my head.
“By the way, April told me about you and Rebel making things official.” He slaps me on the back. “That’s great, but I’m obligated as Rebel’s honorary brother-in-law to warn you…”
My eyebrows raise at that self-appointed title.
“… if you hurt her, my girlfriend knows how to use a wrench.”
I smirk. “Noted.”
Chance smacks me once more on the back and we head to the ice together. The two of us do drills until coach arrives. Then we spend hours sweating through a series of plays we’re perfecting for the game.
After practice, the team peels away their sweaty hockey gear and hit the showers, but I go straight to my locker. Once I’ve freed my phone from my gym bag, I notice a new notification on the screen.
REBEL: Good morning.
There’s a smiley face emoji, a heart emoji (pink of course) and a sunshine emoji.
I grin as I touch the heart emoji.
My own heart is ramming against my ribs with the force of a defenseman slamming into the boards.
You know what’s crazy?
Even Rebel’s texts are pretty.
I tap the emoji button and a billion emojis pop up. Which one do I use? Why are there so many of them, dang it?
Before I can decide on one, another text comes in.
REBEL: Is practice over?
ME: Yeah. Are you at the garage yet?
REBEL: Heading there in a few.
ME: Hungry?
REBEL: Starving.
ME: Doughnuts?
REBEL: Only if you want my undying love and devotion.
My mouth trembles.
Don’t do it.
My lips inch upward.
Don’t. Be a man, Gunner .
A soft, pleased smile pops free before I can restrain myself. Rebel’s undying love and devotion sounds like a sweet reward to me.
“Gah! My eyes! My eyes!” A commotion erupts next to me.
I turn to find Renthrow, Theilan, Watson and Chance staring me down.
Renthrow is studying me like I sprouted antennas.
Watson is cringing.
Chance is smiling knowingly.
Theilan is writhing on the bench. He points an accusing finger. “What was that…?” Theilan gestures to my face. “That sappy expression?”
I grunt and slam my locker door closed.
“What’s wrong with you?” Theilan yells. “Are you sick or something?”
Watson looks me up and down, suspiciously.
“Must be because of his girlfriend,” Renthrow says.
“No way. Gunner’s been dating Rebel for a while and I’ve never seen him smile like that,” Watson argues.
Theilen smacks his hand on the bench and then lifts that very hand to point at me. “Are you seeing someone else?”
I slant him a cutting look.
Immediately, Theilan shirks back. “Uh, has anyone seen my stick tape?”
While Theilan avoids my stare, my phone vibrates with a new voice message.
I press play and put the cell phone to my ears.
Rebel’s silky-smooth tone caresses my ear drums. “Thank you in advance, boyfriend. ”
After a few seconds of debate, I decide that I don’t care about my audience and press the button to answer Rebel’s voice message with my own.
“You’re welcome, girlfriend .”
“Ah!” Watson roars in pain.
Renthrow shudders and quickly makes his exit, yanking his Hello Kitty gym bag over his shoulder.
Chance is laughing so hard he’s red in the face.
Theilan shudders. “I need to bleach my ears.”
Face a mask of utter apathy, I tuck my phone back into my locker and hit the showers.
Most of my teammates are gone by the time I step out in a towel. They must have cleared out to avoid me.
Unbothered, I drive to the doughnut shop.
“Hey, Phil.” I nod stiffly when I get to the counter. “I’d like…”
“Three pink frosted donuts, three chocolate donuts and a strawberry smoothie?”
I blink twice.
Phil leans over the counter and whispers, “It’s Rebel’s usual order.”
I blink.
“My chocolate donuts sell out quickly, but I always keep a few in the back for her.”
I nod again. “Thanks.”
He boxes up the pastries. “I never do this for customers, but when a man comes face to face with a woman that pretty, well… it’s hard to resist.” He closes the lid of the box. “I hope you know how lucky you are, son. Why, if I were a few years younger, I would’ve…”
My eyes laser into his, daring him to finish that sentence.
Phil gulps and slides the box over the counter. “You and Rebel enjoy.”
“Thanks.” I snatch the donuts and stomp to my car.
Inside my truck, I take a few deep breaths.
Before Rebel and I were officially together, it bothered me to see other guys sniffing around her. However, I managed to tamp those feelings down as, rightfully, I didn’t have any right to be upset.
But now…
Dating Rebel hasn’t cured the problem.
In fact—I set a hand on my chest and feel the unease swirling inside—I think making things official worsened my condition.
I sigh. Why did my girlfriend have to be so breath-taking?
It’s not just her face—as stunning as every inch of it is. It’s the way she laughs, melodious and joyful. It’s the way she smells—like the very essence of sweet strawberries and fresh cherries. It’s the way she looks you right in the eyes and makes it hard to breathe.
It’s only natural for Rebel to have plenty of admirers.
Like me, other men have eyes.
I won’t get any closer to sorting myself out here in the parking lot, so I make my way to Rebel instead and deliver the donuts—minus Phil’s compliments—into her outstretched, pink-gloved hands.
“You really brought them.” Rebel looks up at me with a sultry smile. Her ponytail slides down the shoulder of her pink mechanic jumpsuit and her blue eyes sparkle like the pink gemstone necklace clasped around her neck.
I notice a streak of dirt on her face and wipe it with my thumb. “Busy?”
“Always. I’ll be so relieved when we start construction next month. We need somewhere to keep all these cars.”
“Don’t overwork yourself. Make sure to take breaks when you need them.”
Rebel salutes. “Yes, sir. Any other instructions, sir?”
I smile at her teasing and rest my hands on her shoulders. “That’s it for now. You’re busy, so I won’t stay long.”
She pouts. “You really only came to give me doughnuts?”
I nod.
Her bottom lip sticks out even further.
“And…” I admit. “I wanted to see you.”
Rebel’s expression softens with another brilliant smile. She wraps both arms around my neck. “Look as much as you want.” She twists her head from side to side, showing off her stunning cheekbones and the sweet curve of her chin. “Had enough yet?”
Never. I grab her hips and pull her forward. She lets out a little gasp when our bodies collide. Her skin is soft to the touch and the curve of her waist feels like heaven against my palm.
Leaning forward so I’m inches away from her face, I gaze at her softly. “I could spend all day looking at you and it wouldn’t be enough.”
Rebel’s eyelashes flutter.
Her gaze darts to my lips.
“That’s so sweet ,” a voice chimes.
I startle and Rebel does too.
We both turn to take in April who’s hovering over the donut container.
“I meant the donuts.” April blushes.
“I bought enough for everyone.”
“You’re such a gentleman,” April says. Scooping up the container, she makes a run for it. “Delia! Look! Donuts!” She waves to the quiet, dark-haired mechanic who’s half-buried inside a car.
I reluctantly let Rebel go. “What are you doing tonight?”
“I’m working late as always. Gotta keep up with the demand here at the garage. And then I’ll be planning the first of the sponsored community service activities. Why?”
I step back, astonished. “You’re going to keep working with Rodney Howard?”
“His money didn’t do anything wrong and besides, I don’t want my personal issues getting in the way of helping people. That’s the whole reason I started this.”
Mom said something similar yesterday but, somehow, the thought of Rebel continuing to get involved with Rodney Howard and Benji makes me uneasy.
The wealthy business owner was willing to drop a significant amount of cash for Rebel to consider dating his son. I’ve been around determined businessmen like Rodney Howard before. They don’t stop because they hit a challenge.
“What’s with that face?” Rebel tilts her head.
I glance at the floor, saying nothing. I’m already awful with words and if I try to explain myself now, it’ll sound like I’m a dangerous, controlling guy. It’s better if I don’t say anything at all rather than start a fight.
A brief smile flits across my face and I jut my chin at where April and Delia are devouring the doughnuts.
“You should get over there before there’s none left.”
“They wouldn’t!” Rebel twists, her eyes trained on April. “Hey! Save a few for me!”
“You better hurry up then,” April warns.
Rebel takes a few steps toward her friends and then she turns back. “Do you want to come over tonight?”
“Come… over.”
“Yeah.” She tosses me a distracted smile. “I’ll wrap up everything I need to do around eight. Is that too late or…?”
I shake my head so hard if I were a bobblehead, my springs would have popped out. “No.”
“Great.” Her eyes sparkle. “It’s a date.”
Instantly, all my unease about Rodney Howard and Benji melt away like they never even existed.
I walk out of the garage and let my smile loose again.
Softly, victoriously, I whisper to myself, “It’s a date.”