Guilty until proven innocent

Are You Gonna Be My Girl

*Erik's POV*

Erik and Lyle were out by the edge of the field, where the tall grass met the carefully mowed lawn, surrounded by the scent of fresh earth and the rhythmic chirping of crickets. A slight breeze rustled through the leaves of the old oak tree that stood nearby, offering a spot of shade in the midday heat. Tools lay scattered on the grass—spades, gardening gloves, and a half-assembled sprinkler system that Lyle had been wrestling with for the better part of the morning. It was one of those afternoons when time seemed to move slowly, stretching out beneath the clear blue sky, and the world felt both vast and comfortingly simple. For the first time in a long while, they were simply two brothers, working side by side with the steady rhythm of the earth beneath them.

Erik adjusted his grip on the shovel, its wooden handle warm from the morning heat. He looked over at Lyle, who was struggling to fit a new sprinkler head onto one of the old pipes that seemed to have a mind of its own. They'd decided to spend the day outside, tackling the long-overdue yard work for Lily that had piled up after everything that had happened.

"Need some help, bro?" Erik asked, half teasing. Lyle, his face scrunched with focus, waved him off.

"Nah, I got it," he grumbled, then cursed softly as the fitting slipped again.

Erik chuckled and turned back to his own task, digging around the stubborn roots of an overgrown bush that needed to come out. The steady rhythm of work was almost therapeutic, giving his hands something to do while his mind wandered—mostly to thoughts of Lily.

He paused, leaning on the shovel, watching Lyle wipe sweat off his brow. They had come so far from those days of survival, moving between courtrooms and concrete walls. Now, life held possibility, even something resembling peace. He swallowed, feeling the weight of a different kind of decision resting on his chest—a decision he'd been turning over in his mind for weeks now.

"Hey, Lyle," Erik began, his voice breaking the silence. Lyle looked up, his face brightening as if he welcomed the distraction from his struggle.

"Yeah?" Lyle sat back, taking a breath and letting his focus shift.

Erik cleared his throat, dropping the shovel to rest on his shoulder. "I, uh... I need to tell you something. I've been thinking about it for a while." He hesitated, suddenly feeling the depth of what he was about to share.

Lyle tilted his head, curiosity etched on his features. "What's up, man?"

Erik lowered the shovel, planting it in the ground, and took a deep breath. "I want to ask Lily to marry me."

Lyle blinked, a grin slowly spreading across his face. "Holy shit little brother, you're going to propose?" His voice was a mix of surprise and delight. 

"Yeah." Erik laughed softly, a bit of the tension leaving his chest. He ran a hand through his hair, shaking his head at himself. "It sounds crazy, I know. But it doesn't feel crazy. Not with her, and I don't want to waste any time with this gift we've been given."

Lyle's grin widened, his blue eyes shining. "Brother, that's amazing. I mean, she's incredible, and... I don't know. You guys just make sense."

Erik felt his throat tighten at his brother's words, and he looked down, his fingers absently brushing over the rough wooden handle of the shovel. "It's more than that," he said, his voice quieter now. "I need you to understand why she's the one. It's not just because of everything she's done for us—although I could never repay her for any of it. It's..." He paused, trying to put his feelings into words, the depth of them almost overwhelming.

"It's the way she sees me, Lyle," Erik finally said, looking up, his gaze locking with his brother's. "She doesn't look at me like I'm some broken thing that needs fixing. She sees the scars, the past, but she doesn't flinch. She doesn't pity me. She loves me—not because she wants to make me whole again, but because she loves what's already there. And I... God, I love her for that."

Lyle's expression softened, the teasing grin replaced by something deeper, something closer to understanding. "She lets you be you," he said quietly.

"Exactly," Erik nodded, his voice thick. "She lets me love her, lets me protect her, but she's not afraid to let me in. And that's everything to me. She makes me feel like I can be more than what happened to us—more than all of that."

For a moment, the two of them stood in silence, the weight of everything they'd gone through lingering between them. Lyle's eyes glistened, and he looked away, clearing his throat. "Damn, brother, you're gonna make me cry out here." He laughed, his voice shaky, and Erik felt the same mix of emotions swirling inside himself.

"Sorry," Erik said with a small smile. "I know it's a lot. But I need your help. I want to ask her when we take our first trip out of town together. I think it'll be perfect—just the two of us, somewhere beautiful, without all of this hanging over us. I need you to help me plan it, and I need you to talk to Sam. Make sure he's on board too. And if she says yes, you know I'm going to need you as my best man."

Lyle's eyes widened, and he let out a low whistle. "You really have thought this through, brother. You already know I will do whatever you need me to." He shook his head, a smile tugging at his lips. "Of course I'll help. Are you kidding me? I wouldn't miss this for anything." He stepped closer, clapping a hand on Erik's shoulder. "You're gonna give her the kind of happiness she deserves, bro. And I'm proud of you—for letting yourself have this."

Erik swallowed, his throat tightening as Lyle's words hit him harder than he'd expected. He nodded, his eyes meeting his brother's. "Thanks, Lyle. I know I don't say it enough, but... I wouldn't be here without you. I wouldn't have found this, any of it, without you by my side."

Lyle gave him a crooked smile, his eyes bright with emotion. "We got each other through, man. And now we're finally getting to live. I think we've earned that, don't you?"

"Yeah," Erik said, his voice thick. "Yeah, we have."

Lyle took a breath and then grinned, a spark of humor returning. "Also, just so you know, when I'm giving my best man speech, I'm going to make sure everyone knows how much you fumbled your words when you told me."

Erik laughed, rolling his eyes. "You'd better be nice, or I'll have you wearing something ridiculous."

"Oh, I'll be on my best behavior—maybe." Lyle winked.

They stood there for another moment, the sun warm on their skin, the yard around them feeling more like home than it ever had before. Finally, Lyle cleared his throat, his teasing grin making a return. "Alright, enough of this sappy stuff. You think you can help me fix this damn sprinkler, or are you too busy being all romantic and shit?"

Erik laughed, shaking his head as he picked up his shovel again. "Yeah, yeah. Let's get this done before Lily comes out and sees what a disaster you've made."

Lyle snorted. "Hey, it's a work in progress. Just like you, little brother."

Erik smirked, shaking his head. "I'll take that. Now, let's get this done."

Together, they turned back to their work, the sun shining down, the promise of a new beginning stretching out before them—one that Erik knew, deep in his heart, was worth everything.

Editor's Note:

This chapter showcases a beautiful, raw bond between Erik and Lyle as they work side by side in the yard. Erik's confession about wanting to propose to Lily is heartfelt, reflecting his growth and the healing both brothers have gone through. How does this emotional openness affect the reader's perception of Erik's character, and how might it impact the dynamic between the brothers as they continue on their respective journeys? The scene hints at an upcoming pivotal moment—will Erik's plans go as smoothly as he hopes, or are there unforeseen challenges lying ahead?