19. Chapter 19
Chapter 19
Jake
I pull up outside Marcus’ fire station, tension coiling in my gut. Today's the day. I'm going to face Marcus and try to make things right.
As I climb out of my truck, Asher and Jason are lounging around one of the red fire engines outside. They notice me as I approach.
"Hey, Wilder," Jason says from where he's leaning against the shining red flank of the fire truck, his arms folded over his chest. Asher, gruff as ever, gives me a nod, his blue eyes sharp beneath the shadow of his brow.
"Jake," Asher grunts, pushing off from the wall. “What’s up?”
“Need to talk to Marcus. Where is he?”
Asher and Jason exchange a concerned look. I’m sure they both know something about the situation between me and Ellie.
Jason smirks, that cocky tilt to his lips that says he knows more than he lets on. "You sure? Marcus has been stomping around here all week."
“I figured, but there’s no use prolonging this. We need to hash it out.”
Asher claps me on the shoulder. "He’s doing laundry. You got this. Just don't screw it up."
"Yeah, no pressure."
"Good luck," Jason adds with a firm nod.
I force a tight smile and head inside. I'm not just here to smooth things over. This is about setting things right. It's about Ellie.
The heavy metal door of the Cedar Ridge fire station groans on its hinges as I shove it open, my boots clunking against the concrete floor. Stepping inside, the familiar scent of oil and smoke wraps around me like a protective layer of armor. It's a shield I'm going to need for what comes next.
I’ve never been here, but it’s a similar layout to other stations, so I manage to find the laundry room. With each step, my heart pounds faster. By the time I spot Marcus behind the rumbling washers, dread has twisted my gut into knots.
Marcus glances up as I enter, his face hardening. "Got some nerve showing up here." He returns focus to a pile of laundry he’s sorting, his movements stiff, precise, and very aggressive.
I swallow. "We need to talk."
"I've got nothing to say to you." He slams the lid of a washer closed.
“I messed up." The admission scrapes against my throat, raw and uncomfortable. "I know you're pissed at me, and you have every right to be." I wet my lips. "What I did was wrong. I should've been honest with you from the start about me and Ellie. I'm sorry for betraying your trust."
Marcus scoffs. "Betrayed my trust? You had no right going after Ellie in the first place." His knuckles whiten around the edge of the washer. "She's my sister and you're supposed to be my best friend. How could you do this?"
"Marcus, I—" I start, but he holds up a hand to stop me.
"Save it," he bites out. "You can't undo what's been done."
I swallow hard, the taste of regret bitter on my tongue. "I never wanted to hurt anyone."
"Too late for that, isn't it?" There's a tremor of something in his voice—anger, yes, but underneath it, pain. He crosses his arms and stares at the floor. “Fuck, if you had just told me…If you had come to me and said you were interested in Ellie before acting on anything, this might be different. At least then it would’ve shown respect and trust, and we could’ve talked it out. Hell, I probably would’ve said okay.” He meets my gaze with blazing eyes. “But you didn’t choose that path. You chose to lie.”
I lower my gaze. “I know. I let you down. You have no idea how bad I feel about that. I regret it and I’m sorry.” He's right—I should've respected those lines, should've backed off from the start and been honest with him about my interest in Ellie. But I didn't, and now there's no going back. "I know I screwed up. If I could take it back, I would." I take a step toward him. "Just hear me out. I want to make this right."
"You think this is something you can just make right?" Marcus wheels on me, eyes blazing. "You went behind my back to get with my sister. How do I know you won't do the same with her? How do I know you won't break her heart like all the other assholes she's dated?"
I grind my teeth against the urge to snap at him in return for even suggesting I’d ever do something like that. I bite back my own frustration because I know he’s just hurt and lashing out. "Come one, Marcus. You know me better than that. You know I'll do whatever it takes to make her happy. To make this work."
He sighs, the sound heavy with doubts and fears I can only guess at. "What about bringing her into this life? When the fires come, and you're out there for weeks? She’s told me before how much she worries about me not coming home, and you want to give her another man to worry about. That’s a lot."
I nod, staring at a pile of clothes. That’s a tough reality; a tough life. But it’s also Ellie’s decision. “It’s not your place to keep her away from that because it’s her life. If she decides she can handle my career and all the risks that come with it…” The silence swells between us, thick with the things we don't say. "Look," I start again, forcing the words out. "I'm not asking to sweep everything under the rug. I'm asking to prove myself—to you, to her. Let's find a way to make this work without tearing each other apart."
Marcus's gaze finally meets mine, searching, maybe finding the sincerity I'm laying bare. "So what do you want?”
"Give us your blessing to see where this goes," I say. "Be there for Ellie, like you always have been. But let us be together, openly this time. No sneaking around, no lies. We respect your role in her life, but I need to be a part of it too. Ellie's happiness means everything to me...and I know deep down, you want her to be happy too. Charlotte needs her as well."
"Charlotte?" He seems caught off-guard, not expecting the mention of my daughter.
"Yeah. She adores Ellie. And for the first time since Sarah..." I trail off, the memory of my wife like a ghost between us. "I love Ellie. Both Charlotte and I need her in our lives, if she agrees to forgive me."
"You're serious about this." It's not a question, but I answer anyway.
I pull out the ring box I had tucked away in my pocket. I pop it open, revealing the diamond ring inside. "Dead serious."
Marcus runs a hand over his face. “Fuck,” he says, drawing it out. “I have no idea how we got to this point.”
“Just give me your blessing.”
Marcus is staring at the ring hard, looking like he’s about to tell me, “Hell no.”
“Wow, Wilder,” I hear a voice behind me. "You really know how to drop a bomb." I turn to see Jason leaning against the doorway, Asher close behind.
I smirk; figures they’d be too curious not to eavesdrop.
"Marcus, you gotta let this go," Asher cuts in, his tone surprisingly level. "You always said you didn't want Ellie ending up with some asshole. You can't find a guy better than Jake, so why are you holding a grudge?"
Jason nods, his smirk replaced by something resembling sincere support. "He's right, man. You know Jake's solid. And stubborn as hell. He'll treat Ellie right."
The silence stretches tight, and for a moment, I wonder if Marcus will blow a gasket. But then something shifts in his expression, the lines of his face softening ever so slightly.
"Alright," he exhales. "Fine. But if you do anything to hurt her—"
"Never," I cut in. "I'm in this. All the way."
Marcus and I lock eyes, a silent agreement passing between us. The tension finally leaves my body—most of it. There’s still the obstacle of facing Ellie and getting her to take me back.
"Congrats, man." Jason claps me on the shoulder, his grin genuine. Asher simply nods, the closest thing to a congratulations I'll probably get from him.
Then Jason shakes his head. “I don’t understand any of this. How are all of you getting married before me? I’m the charming one.” He glances at Marcus. “You’re not planning a proposal next are you? I think I’d die being the last one not engaged.”
Marcus’ eyes go wide and he actually smiles. “Absolutely not. These two want to get married, not me.”
“Good,” Jason exhales. “Then I still have time.”
His words break the tension as we all smile.
After a long moment, Marcus extends his hand. I grasp it firmly. Things aren't back to normal, not yet...but this is a start. A step toward making things right, and building something new.