Page 89 of Gunner

I shook my head, smiling. “Oh, I’m leaving this room and you won’t stop me. I’ve been cooped up in this damn room for two days. I’m fine. Claudia said so. Even my mom said I was fine. You are the only one who doesn’t think so.”

“You just had a traumatic event happen to you. You’re not fine!”

Turning to the annoying man, I huffed, placing my hands on my hips. “Maybe it’s you who needs time. Are you okay?”

“No!” He roared. “I’m not okay! My woman had a fucking gun to her head. Instead of crying, you act as if nothing happened. It’s not normal. Weren’t you scared?”

I sighed, sitting on the bed. “Yes, Gunner, I was. But being scared served nothing. Carter is dead. He can’t hurt me anymore. I’m fine. Really. I just want to work in the garage. I won’t leave the compound, but I refuse to stay another minute in this room. You’re suffocating me.”

Gunner stiffened, narrowing his eyes. “I’m suffocating you?”

“I didn’t mean it like that.” I sighed. God, why was he being so butt-hurt about the whole thing? I got he was worried about me, but damn it. I was fine. Why couldn’t he see that?

His eyes hardened.

“I wouldn’t want to suffocate you. Sorry, I fucking cared. Won’t make that mistake again,” he said, storming out of the room.

“Gunner, come on,” I yelled after him.

“Do what you want. You don’t need me!” he said, his voice trailing off as he walked away. Flinging myself back on the bed, I took a deep breath and closed my eyes when I heard. “He’s scared.”

Turning towards the door, I saw King standing there.

“He’s never cared for anyone but himself. You changed the game for him, Sarah.”

“I’m not a game. I’m a person.”

“I know that, but he’s just learning. His whole life, all he’s ever had to worry about is himself. He’s never given a second thought about anything. Then you show up and turn his world upside down.”

“That wasn’t my intention.”

King shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. From the moment my brother saw you, he knew you were his. Then your father told him to stay away. It gutted him, Sarah. He won’t admit it, but it did. In Gunner’s mind, he knew he wasn’t ever going to be good enough for you. So he did as your father asked and continued on with his life as if it was all he was ever going to have. Then you returned home, and everything changed. Everything he’s ever wanted is within his grasp, and he’s scared of losing it all. My brother is the biggest kid in this club. He takes nothing seriously, but with you, he’s different. He wants to be the shoulder you lean on, your protector, the person you depend on.”

“And I’m not letting him.” I muttered, looking at the ceiling.

“It’s not your fault. You didn’t know. Mike told me how he and Beth raised you. What they did was admirable, but for someone like Gunner who only wants to be your everything, it’s hard for him when deep down he knows you don’t need him. He feels lost, like he’s not wanted.”

“But I do want him. I love him. I want to marry him and spend the rest of my life with him. He’s all I ever wanted too. He wasn’t the only one who fell in love at first sight, King. I did too. Do you think I was happy when my parents shipped me off to college? I hated it. I tried to move on with my life and I couldn’t. I kept fucking up, making stupid mistakes, like Carter. I’m better when he’s around. I can be myself. The person I want to be, and Gunner’s okay with that. He encourages me to be who I am. Not what people expect me to be.”

“Have you told him that?”

I shook my head.

King sighed. “Sarah, you and Cord are a lot alike in so many ways. You both look at life through kid’s eyes and love everything around you. Nothing ever seems to bother either of you. You both take what life throws at you with a grain of salt and accept it. You both love with your whole heart. You don’t realize it yet, but you’re blessed because not only do you have the man of your dreams, but you get to love a man who will stand beside you, be anything you need him to be, your best friend, your confidante, your lover. Few people get what you and Gunner have. So, if he wants to baby you, hover over you, he’s not doing it because you need it. It’s because he does.”

“He needs to feel wanted.”

King grinned. “Now you’re learning, beautiful. What would it hurt to humor him for a few days?”

Getting to my feet, I nodded. “I can do that. For him, I will.”

“Good,” King said, smiling. “But do me one favor.”

“What’s that?”

“When it’s your turn to drive him crazy, jump on the crazy train and ride it for all you can.”

I laughed. “I can do that.”