Fisher's Light(73)

She kicks and claws at his arms until he lets go and moves away, putting himself between Ellie and the door so she can’t try and escape again.

“Will you stop following me? Jesus, just go away!”

“I’m not going anywhere until you agree to marry me!” Bobby shouts at her.

My mouth drops open and my eyes widen in shock. What in the actual f*ck is happening right now?

“Oh, my God, will you stop?! I am NOT going to marry you, I don’t even like you!” Ellie argues.

“Bullshit! You’re in love with me, dammit, you’re just too scared to admit it!”

Ellie stomps her foot like a toddler and crosses her arms in front of her. I should probably say something, try and get them to stop arguing and tell me what the hell is going on, but I’m too stunned to do anything other than stand here in the doorway.

“You are SUCH an *!” Ellie screams.

“You’re right, I’m a huge *. That’s one thing we agree on. I’m also not going to let you do this alone,” Bobby adds.

“I am perfectly capable of doing this on my own. I’ve been taking care of myself since I was nineteen years old and I don’t need some guy thinking he needs to marry me just because I’m pregnant!”

Whoa. What the hell?!

“Ellie?” I whisper, finally making my presence known.

She jumps a little at the sound of my voice, her tear-filled eyes finding mine across the room. I look at her questioningly and she just shrugs, swiping angrily at the tears that have started to fall down her face.

Finding out that Ellie is pregnant has thrown me completely, but finding out that she was actually dating someone is even more shocking. Ellie has been alone since her husband of only a year, Daniel, was killed in action. They were high school sweethearts just like Fisher and I, and when he received orders that sent him from South Carolina to Texas, they got married as soon as Ellie graduated from high school so she could go with him. She’s told me countless times after a few glasses of wine that she knows she’ll never love someone as much as she loved her husband. The tragic way she lost him scarred her heart worse than anything I could ever imagine, and she’s kept that heart under lock and key for all of these years. I’m protective of her whenever I see a guy try to hit on her or ask her out on a date, but I also recognize that she needs to move on.

Bobby wraps his hands around her upper arms and turns her body to face him. I stand silently in the corner and let him say what he needs to say, hoping he knows what the hell he’s doing. If he hurts my best friend, I will kick his ass.

“I know I’m not Daniel. I would never try to take his place in your heart or your life, but I hope that you can make a little room for me in there and give me a chance. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m completely in love with you, Ellie. I’ve been in love with you since the first day I met you and you told me to f*ck off when I asked you out on a date,” Bobby chuckles. “I want to marry you because I love you and I can’t imagine spending the rest of my life arguing with anyone else but you. I’m not asking you to marry me because of the baby, I’m asking you to marry me because of ME. Because I want this, more than I’ve ever wanted anything else in my life.”

He drops his hands from Ellie’s arms and leans forward, pressing a kiss to her forehead before backing away.

“Don’t say no. At least, not right away. Just think about it. You know where to find me.”

Bobby gives me a nod before turning away and leaving through the sliding doors. As soon as he’s gone, I rush over to Ellie and wrap my arms around her while she sobs into my shoulder. I’ve never seen Ellie cry, EVER, and it tears me apart to hear the anguish in her voice as she cries.

“Everything is going to be okay, Ellie, I promise. I’m going to be here for you every step of the way. If you don’t want Bobby, I will be here. I’m not going anywhere,” I tell her.

She lets out a groan, pulling out of my arms. “That’s the problem. I DO want Bobby! He’s such an arrogant ass, but he’s sweet and he loves me and f*cking hell, I think I’m in love with him, too!”

Grabbing onto her hand, I yank her outside onto the veranda, pointing to a rocking chair. “Sit!”

She immediately complies. Leaning my butt against the railing, I cross my arms in front of me and stare at her.

“Speak.”

She rolls her eyes. “I’m not a damn dog, Lucy. Hey, aren’t you supposed to be down at the parade?”