Free Faithful by Kelly Elliott Page B

shit, sorry. Old habits are hard to break,” she said as she smiled at me.
    Once she shut the door, Jeff let out a laugh. “Motherfucker, some things never change!”
    “Fuck, Josh, what did you ever see in that girl?” Gunner asked as he ran his hand through his hair.
    I let out a laugh, but I stopped as soon as the pain in my side shot through my whole body.
    “Fuck, don’t answer that. I already know what you’re gonna say…especially since your ass thinks you’re the old you!” Jeff smiled at me.
    “The old me? What’s the new me like?” I asked as Jeff and Gunner looked at each other.
    “Well, from what we saw when we walked in, I take it you know that you and Heather are dating?” Gunner asked with a grin.
    I nodded. “There’s something about that girl. She’s exactly what I’ve been looking for. I’ve never felt like this before.”
    Jeff smiled at me and shook his head. “Josh, you’re fucking madly in love with her. You were even gonna ask—”
    Gunner hit Jeff in the arm.
    I let out a laugh. Shit, the pain. “I already know I was going to ask her to marry me the night I had the accident. My parents told me they found the ring on me when they brought me into the hospital.”
    Gunner smiled. “Yeah, dude, we went with you to pick it out. You were fucking nervous as hell, too.”
    Jeff started laughing. “You were shaking from head to toe, but man…you picked out a beautiful ring.”
    “Can I ask y’all something?”
    “Of course, Josh. We’re like brothers. You know you can always ask us anything,” Jeff said.
    “Have I been…well, you know…with Heather…have I been, um…well…”
    “Jesus, spit it the hell out.” Gunner started to laugh.
    “Have I been good to her? I mean…I haven’t fucked around on her, have I?”
    Jeff looked at me and smiled. “Dude, the moment you realized you loved her, you went for, like, months without sex. I actually started to worry about you.” He threw his head back and laughed.
    “Let’s just say, the road y’all have traveled on was not so straight, but when you finally got together…dude, you loved her with all your heart. There’s a reason you’re feeling the way you are, Josh. A love like what you and Heather share…it never goes away. Just take it slow. It’ll come back. For now, just enjoy it. Get to know each other again. In a way, you’re a lucky bastard.” Gunner smiled, shaking his head.
    I looked at Gunner, confused. “How the hell do you figure that? I’ve lost all these years, Gun. I can’t even remember the girl I’m in love with. For fuck’s sake, I was planning on asking her to marry me!”
    Gunner smiled at me. “Josh, you get to fall in love with her all over again. You can experience all those first moments with her. Dude, you get to sweep her off her feet again and make her fall in love with you even more.”
    Jeff stared at Gunner and shook his head. “Jesus H. Christ, who the fuck taught you this sappy-ass shit?”
    I started to laugh as I grabbed my side. “Oh shit. What about my truck?” If anything happened to my Dodge, I swear I’m going to kill that motherfucking drunk driver.
    Gunner and Jeff both looked at each other.
    “Dude, it’s totaled,” Gunner said.
    “But don’t worry. You were actually getting ready to buy a new truck,” Jeff said as he glanced back at Gunner.
    “My truck is totaled? Fuck! I was gonna buy a new Dodge? What was wrong with mine?”
    Jeff smiled. “You weren’t gonna get a Dodge, dude. You were tired of that truck. Bitch had no balls. You were looking at an F-250 diesel. You needed power for pulling the trailer with your furniture.”
    Gunner snapped his head over to Jeff.
    I was getting a fucking Ford? Jesus, I really have changed. “Wait, what do you mean, ‘with your furniture’? I’m working for my dad?”
    “You bought out your dad. It’s your business, dude, and you’re doing great,” Gunner said with a smile.
    No fucking way. I own my dad’s