The Nerd Next Door

(14) "That Ring"

The following Saturday they were having dinner with Bucky's family. All of the Berkleys were invited which meant Liam was coming to dinner. When he got there with Sloane he pulled Isobel a side.

"Still aren't going to tell me?" Liam said

"Nope.." she said and walked off

They all enjoyed a dinner of sushi clams oysters and lobster. What Liam couldnt see was Bucky keeping his hand on Isobel's baby bump. Ever since she said she could feel the flutters he was waiting for the day for them to kick him.

Bucky was stressed out all the time. Trying to not let the secret out and still holding his ground that he wont marry Isobel out of convience. Not to mention he was still dating Briella.

After most of the dinner guests had left. James Sr took Bucky upstairs to his bedroom.

"My grandson this ring was your great grandmother Junie's ring. My dad bought it for her cause it matched her eyes. When she passed away she left it to me. Now Im passing it on to you my boy." James Sr said

Bucky opened it up to see a big green emerald ring with two diamonds on the side.

"Grandpa this is beautiful. But I cant..she..she deserves better. I dont want to marry her out of obligation." He said

"James give her the ring. We had it sized to her finger." James Sr said

Bucky sighed. "You all really dont care what this will do to me." He said

"James in a few months your babies will be born. Next summer you leave for boot camp. High school will be over before you know it. If your friends cant accept that you are doing the right thing by stepping up being a man in this situation then they arent your friends. And as far as that harlot you have been dating on and off. After high school is over she will soon realize that life isn't all about shopping cheering and sleeping around." James Sr said

"She isnt that bad grandpa. Brie likes to have fun whats so wrong about that?" He said

"Nothing James. But there comes a point when you have to start growing up. She isnt ready to grow up and she is dragging you down with her." James Sr said

Bucky looked down then left the room. He found Isobel in the sunroom with Lindsey and Frankie. She was holding his 4 month old niece Zara Blake that Lindsey and Evan had.

"Izzy.." he said

"Oh hey..here Linds." She said as she gave the baby back.

They went outside by the pool. He sighed then said "Give me your hand." He said

She held out her left hand he opened the box. He slide the ring on her finger. "There.." he said

"Well you could atleast ask me.." she said

"Iz.." he said

She looked down. "Marry me? Blah blah blah" He said with a smile.

"Yeah.." she said as she looked at him and kissed his cheek.

"Its beautiful." She said as she looked at him.

"Yeah it is." He said

Then they heard his mom scream "James!" They both went running back inside. Dean was calling 911 while trying to get James to stay with him.

"Dad?" Bucky said as his brothers came up behind him.

"He is having a heart attack." Ollie whispered

Thirty minutes later the EMTs arrived. Dean drove behind them and met them at the hospital. He assessed James ran tests as the family was filling the waiting room.

Isobel went home cause even though they were engaged. It was still Briella's place to be there for him. Bucky called Briella to see if she would meet him there but she said no. But when he arrived and went into the room.

Liam and the boys were waiting for him. They all hugged him when he seen them. Dean came out after performing surgery to see what caused the heart attack.

"He is going to be fine. Alot of it was caused by stress. His blood pressure was slightly elevated. He is in recovery now. We need to keep his stress levels low as well as his blood pressure. But for now he needs to rest for the next several weeks." Dean said

"Thank goodness." Winnie said

Winnie told Bucky he would have to help her around the house when they were alone. On Monday when Isobel came in with her ring on full display as she drank from her taco bell cup. Briella saw her ring and scoffed.

"Whose the idiot that would want to marry a nerd like her? She doesnt deserve such a beautiful rock.." Briella said then Isobel stood up.

Isobel was 17 weeks along she could no longer hide it. "She's pregnant.." Austin said to Briella.

"I can see that." Briella said

"I will be back Brie. I gotta take a leak." Bucky said then he left the cafeteria.

Bucky pulled Isobel into a supply closet.

"How did the appointment go?" He said

"Good. Both babies are strong and have good heartbeats." She said

He ran his hands up her shirt and rested their foreheads together as he held her bump.

"Im sorry for not going. I just cant make it to obvious." He said

"Its fine." She said

Later that day Briella was at Bucky's locker. "So are we hanging out tonight?"

"No I cant. I have to help my mom" he said

Briella scoffed. "Isnt that what your dad is for? We couldnt hang out all weekend. Now we cant hang out tonight. Clearly Nerdy Berkley has a better boyfriend then I do with a ring like that." Briella said

Liam heard her and looked to her cousin. Sloane whispered "that ring is gorgeous. She loves green emeralds."

Bucky looked at Briella. "Brie my dad cant help my mom he had a fucking heart attack over the weekend." He said as he slammed his locker door and walked off.

That night Isobel came into his room as he was doing his history reading.

"If you are here to say something mean dont bother." He said

"I came to sleep." She said as she climbed into his bed.

He made waterfalls with his fingers on her bump as he read. Eventually he heard tiny snores coming from her. He closed up his book and turned off his lamp and went to sleep himself.