Page 17 of Gunner

“What does that mean?” I almost whine confused by what this means.

“It means I would fuck you again, over and over. I would make you scream my name with you in my bed every night.”

“But you won’t.” He leans in, touching his lips to mine, and I nearly lose my breath. I let him keep kissing me and I get lost in him. His taste, the feel of him. Everything about him blows me away. But then he pulls back.

“This is complicated.”

“Because we don’t know each other,” I whisper.

“You’re young. You don’t know what you want out of life, Nat.”

“I want to be happy, Gunner. That’s it.”

“And you think I can make you happy?” he asks. We don’t know each other. I don’t know shit about him besides he’s older than me and has two kids.

“We don’t know each other.”

“And that’s the problem, isn’t it?”

“I guess it is.”

“Listen. Do I want to know you? Yeah, I do. You’re havin’ my baby, Nat. That’s reason enough to get to know you. If somethin’ more comes out this? We let it, yeah?”

“My age …” I trail off.

“Is a number. Am I a little fucked up over it? Yeah, I am. Just give me some time, yeah?” I nod my head because I have no fucking idea what else to do.

Chapter 7

Gunner

She has me fucked up. Seeing her like that, sick and helpless. It has my head fucked up. I should stay away from her, except I can’t. I don’t know why. And I don’t think it’s just because she’s pregnant, either. There’s something more there. Something I want to explore, but what the fuck kind of man would that make me? I’m grown. She’s young and has her whole life ahead of her. Fuck, what I am doing?

Doc gave her meds and fluids. He gave her prescriptions to take home with her, too. Now we sit in the truck at the fucking hospital, arguing yet again.

“I’ll be fine.”

“Yeah, like you were the last month.”

“I’m an adult, Gunner!”

“A homeless adult, Natasa. I won’t bother you. I won’t get in your space. Just do this for me. Please.”

“No.”

“I don’t fuckin’ say please to anyone, Nat. I’m askin’ you now. Please.” She turns to look at me and can see the look on my face. She knows I’m not joking here. I won’t fucking beg anyone but her? I’ll do it.

“What about my stuff? And Rick?”

“He can come too. I’ll get your stuff.”

“Won’t that be weird? Having us both there?”

“No. It won’t. Just do this for me, Nat.” She looks down at her hands before blowing out a breath.

“Okay.”

“Yeah?”

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