My Best Friend

Chapter 11 Dream House

As Brantley pulls the truck in the driveway Ellie is looking around and the house comes into view, he parks the truck and turns to see her reaction. Ellie is speechless and looks from the house to him and then back to the house.
She finally speaks and said," You built your dream house that we talked about as teenagers B." He smiles and tells her," I built our dream house cause why would I need a sunroom or a library? I felt somewhere deep down that you would come back and I wanted to be able to say I had made you proud. Thinking about it now El, I guess what others said was true." Ellie responded with ." What did other people say?"
"Well when I had the plans drawn up I was dating someone but I didn't give them any input cause I knew just how the kitchen had to be and other things. I had one of them tell me that I was crazy if I thought I would find someone who was willing to play second fiddle to a memory of a girl who had walked away years ago. That is basically what I have asked every one of them to do, especially Amber. She saw 10 years ago that I was in love with you not just that I loved you. When I called it off this last time it was because I finally realized that for myself. Come on let's get you inside the house ."
Ellie walked in and said," I probably know the layout even though I have never been here." As she walked around and looked she was amazed that Brantley had remembered the smallest details that they had described when they were 17 and talking about what they wanted in a house when they were grown up and living together.
After seeing the house they went upstairs to his bedroom. Brantley gave her a tshirt so she could change and get ready for bed. She went to the bathroom and washed her makeup off. When she walked back into the bedrooms he saw Brantley was already in bed. He looked up and said," Come on El, it's okay." She wakes over and climbed between the sheets and went into Brantley's arms. He turned the light off and kissed her on top of her head and told her to get some rest. He felt her relax and her breathing slowed. He lay there and just listened to her breathing thinking that all was right in his world, he had his music, his dream house and his girl was laying in his arms. The last thought he had was he better not screw it up this time.

Ellie woke up and saw that it was daylight outside and she moved to see what time it was and when she saw that it was 11:30am she realized for the first time since she got out of the hospital that she had slept through the night without being woke up by nightmares. She looked at Brantley and started tracing his tattoos , his arm tightened around her. He said in that low gruff growl of morning just waking up voice," Darlin I know you ain't doing that to start something but I have to tell you that seeing you in my arms with your hair like that and feeling your bare legs on mine and you tracing my tattoos, well it is doing something to me." Ellie blushed and said," Your voice of a morning and tattoos just does something to me B." He kisses her hair and said," That's a good thing to know El. At least these feelings aren't just on my side. We are gonna have to get up its Sunday and you know what that means." Ellie said,"'Yeah it means lunch at Mama Becky's and looking at the time we missed church so we are both in the doghouse when we get there. Although last night was the first time that I have slept that long since I woke up from the coma. And I did it without a single nightmare, so that might get a reprieve." Brantley smiled and said "let me get a shower and then we will head to your place so you can get ready. " Brantley got up and gave her a kiss and headed to the bathroom. Ellie lay there watching him in his boxer briefs walk and without turning around Brantleysaid," Like what you see Darlin? " Teasing him Ellie said," what if I do outlaw? What are you gonna do ?" That made Brantley stop and turn to face her," Don't El, I'm trying to do this right  so I don't lose you again. That means taking it slow and when you say things like that it makes me want to show you just what I want to do to you. I know you're not ready for that, your body isn't healed yet but darlin I promise you as soon as  you are sure that I am what you want then I will show you all the things I want to do to you." Ellie gets up and walks to him and said," I want you B, I always have and I always will and I have an appointment with the doctor tomorrow as a follow up checkup. So you know that when the doctor gives me the clearance I want you, although there is something I left out when I told everyone what happened. B I had never been with anyone, the closest I had come was the night when we got drunk and you stopped. So other than that man I haven't been with anyone and I'm scared that I won't be able to when it comes down to it. I have seen a therapist in the hospital about the after effects but I can't let this go any further without telling you.  So I'm not sure how this is gonna work. I do know we've wasted 10 years, outlaw, and I am not wasting another day. Almost dying does that to you, makes you see how precious life and the ones you love are. So I'm putting my cards on the table so you know I want you, today, tomorrow and every day after that. I want forever with you. I also know that you have commitment issues, so I am willing to wait as long as you understand I am playing for keeps."
Brantley looks at her," Oh baby I am so sorry but thank you for telling me. I want to take things slow and do it right this time I like the fact that you know what you want cause I want all of that too Darlin'. I'm playing for keeps but I didn't want to rush you or scare you off. I'm willing to give you what you need whether it's time or right now. So with that being said, does this mean your my girlfriend?"
Ellie smiles as she puts her arms around him and said," yes I'm your girlfriend if that's what you want." Brantley leans down as he wraps his arms around her and pulls her close and kisses her and said "that is what I want now as much as I hate to leave your arms I gotta get a shower." Ellie sighed and let him go.