The Perfect Ride

Chapter 25

"What are you doing here?" I ask.

"Roz called. I needed to make sure my sister was okay". Ellie stood in front of me. "I caught the first flight that I could".

"But, we...were fighting" I say.

"Just shut up and hug me" She says. I did just that. "I'm sorry I was an ass. I love you, and you know that".

"No. I was the ass. I'm sorry" I say before letting go.

"Thanks for calling, Roz" Ellie says before hugging Roz. I hugged her after that.

"You knew just what I needed" I tell her.

"Of course" She replies. We all sit down.

"So, Jess broke his neck riding?" She asks. I nod.

"Yeah. He had a surgery and they put in a graft. He's doing good right now. It's a waiting game" I explain.

"Well, what're you all going to do about tour?" She asks.

"I haven't talked to David, but Cooper called him earlier and he said we can stay here as long as Jess needs to recover and we'll still all get paid. The room is covered, along with the hotel rooms. And, Roz went ahead and talked to him about the pregnancy, but she's allowed to stay on tour as an announcer" I explain to her. Everything was working out well. We just needed to tell Jess that now.

***
A couple hours had went by and it was 5PM on May 23rd. Roz had left and Cooper was performing tonight. It was just Ellie and I. She was laid back on the couch and I was sitting beside Jess.

"Can I ask you a question?" She asks me.

"What's up?" I ask.

"Back when you guys were in Montana a couple days ago, Jess came to see me. Did you tell him to come?" She asks. I suspected she'd think that.

"No" I say. "After we fought, I just went to sleep. I woke up and Roz told me that Jess went to talk to you. I was actually kind of mad that he did it. Thinking he'd make things worse".

"I mean, I can admit that it didn't help. I was jealous. I knew the minute I started seeing you two post about each other that your world revolved around him now. I knew you'd never just be 'my sister' again. You can tell how much you love each other. Jess proved that to me" She explains. "I'm glad you found that kind of person".

"I do love him, Ell. I love him so much that...I don't know what I'd do without him. I want him to be in my life forever" I say.

"I hope he is, Sadie. I really do".

"You know just because he's my boyfriend doesn't mean I love you any less, right? You're my sister. You can't replace family that easily" I tell her. She nods.

"I know. I just have to learn to share" She says. We both laugh. "So, tell me, is it hard to love a bull rider like Dad always said?".

"Not Jess, no. When he and I first met, he was standing outside my bus and used his fingers to tell me his phone number. We texted the whole ride to our first show. Talked on the phone until we fell asleep. We danced to his favorite song on our first date and he sang it to me the whole way home. He punched his friend in the face for hurting Roz. He was the one who told Roz her pregnancy test was positive. He's amazing. Loving him is easiest thing I've ever done" I say, reminiscing all out memories together the past three months. "He's the most amazing guy I've ever known. Ell, I hope you get to see that".

"Yeah" She says. "I hope so too". It was silent for a moment. I felt tears forming in my eyes. I didn't want Ellie to see me cry.

"Okay. I'm...going to go get some air and call Roz. Will you wait here?" I ask her.

"Oh, yeah" She says. I quickly walk out before she notices the tears. I wanted him to wake up so bad, I could taste it. I didn't know what else to do.

***Ellie's POV***

I knew Sadie was emotional. Her eyes always glossed over when she was fighting tears. My heart broke so much for her, that it brought me to tears. I walked over and stood beside Jess. I thought back to when he basically told me he was going to marry her. In that moment, there was nothing I wanted more than that to happen. Just for Sadie's sake.

"Damn you, Jess Lockwood. Making my sister fall for you. You can't leave her behind now. She loves you so much, I think she'd rather be in this bed. She'd lay down her own life for you, and I know it" I say. That did make tears stream from my eyes. "I told you not to break her heart". I say before plopping down in the chair beside him. My head fell in my hands. I'd never seen Sadie this upset before and that broke my heart.

"I won't" I hear a voice say. My head sprung up. Jess was looking over to me. "I told you that".

"Oh, my god! You're okay!" I say. I didn't know what came over me, but I leaned down and kissed his forehead.

"I'm fine, Ellie" He says. His voice was raspy.

"I'll go get Sadie" I say.

"No, don't" He replies. I raise an eyebrow. "I want to tell you something first".

"What?" I ask.

"I...am desperately in love with your sister. She is the brightest ray of light in my life. The reason I do what I do. I've never felt that way before" He says.

"Okay?" I ask, confused.

"My intention is to marry her. I never said that the other day. But, I want you to be the first to know. I don't know when, or where, or how, but one day...I will make that girl my wife. I'm not going anywhere anytime soon. That's a promise".