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CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
Bishop had his firstrealTitan job under his belt—the first one outside of Ella. It had felt like coming home. But the second that helo had touched the ground and they’d loaded up their gear and debriefed, Bishop hauled ass home.Thatfelt like coming home too. Even though he knew today would be rough.
Ella had been fine while he was gone, handling the fact that he’d gone dark for days in a danger zone surprisingly well. Now, there they were. He shifted his truck into Park and glanced at Ella, who had her fingers tied in knots, much like his gut.
He pulled the keys from the ignition, nervous. “I always liked how this place looks.” Some folks went about getting approval to get engaged in a more traditional fashion. He and Ella weren’t traditional, so there they were, walking into a conversation that no one could prepare for.
She fidgeted. “Mm-hmm.”
“Are you ready?” Because he certainly wasn’t.
Ella had her bottom lip tucked between her teeth and was rolling a piece of hair on her fingers. “Are you?”
“I don’t think anybody’s ever prepared for this type of conversation, but this is—” He shook his head. “Let’s do it.”
They opened their truck doors, jumped out, then let them shut. The thud echoed in the very quiet afternoon. The peaceful day had little more than a slight breeze as Ella joined him at the front of the hood, letting her fingers wind with his. Her long, flowing skirt picked up on a gust and brushed against his legs.
Trees swayed. He hadn’t been back here in years. So much time had passed that it almost looked like a different place, having grown up as he had. The landscaping was the same, but the bushes and trees had matured.
His stomach was in his throat. Nerves, emotions—things he hadn’t felt in a very long time—jumbled. He didn’t have the words as they walked on a path, until they came to a stop.
“Here we are,” Ella said quietly.
Thank God she could talk, because standing at his sister’s grave killed him.
“Hi, Brie.” Ella paused, losing her composure. “It’s been too long since the three of us were together.”
Tears pricked Bishop’s eyelids, and he had to stare away at the sky. It wasn’t just that it had been too long since the two of them had been there; it had been too long since he had. Years had passed since he stood there, and how awful a brother did that make him?
Ella squeezed his hand, and he squeezed back.
“Hey, sis.” Because that was about all he could manage.
“I guess you probably see this already. Us,” Ella wondered aloud. “Or maybe you don’t. Who knows how it works? But Bishop and I found our way back together.” Gently, she swung their hands.
Somewhere, a bird carried a tune, and Bishop took a stabilizing breath, standing stoically for Ella and Brie. They might never know that right now was one of the hardest moments of his life, but he would sooner fall down and die than let them both down again.
“Brie and I knew that it would always be like this. Right, Brie?” Ella laughed quietly. “It took Bishop some time.” Ella tilted her chin, a gentle smile waiting for him.
“Not that long,” he offered.
She gave him a side eye, and it made him laugh—which he tamped down. Laughing at a cemetery felt wrong. Everything about this was weird. They had talked about closure. Ella felt very strongly about having this conversation with the three of them. But actuallytalkingout loud? And laughing? While Brie was gone? This was a place of respect.
Hell. This was what Ella wanted and maybe he even needed. Either way, he still found his way back to his sister, who loved to laugh and smile with them. They were the Three Musketeers.
“I think…” Bishop studied the grave. Brie O’Kane. “That girls figure these things out before the guys do.ButI figured it out.” He held Ella, pulling her in front of him and wrapping her to his stomach. “And I’m gonna marry El one of these days. That’s one of the reasons why we’re here.”
“All those years of doodling his name in a heart paid off.”
He laughed, shaking his head. “I promise not to be such a stranger anymore.”
Bishop leaned on Ella in so many ways as the breeze picked up her skirt, brushing against his leg as it always seemed to do. She leaned back, and they stood, letting time float by, until he gave her a squeeze.
“This is good,” he said. “I think we’ve done more for us and Brie today than we have in years.”
***
“Well, look at you.” Bishop couldn’t hide his smile as Ella pulled his truck in front of his house. “If I knew any better, I’d assume you were a natural-born, diesel-driving road mama.”