Chapter 14: Sweet Eric
1224 Words
Chapter 14
Elle
I don't want to leave Olivia alone with a baby. It feels too harsh, and besides, I did promise Adam to take care of Olivia.
“Olivia please move in with me and the twins until the guys are back", I say. "Mine and Cody’s bed is so big, bigger than enough for the both of us, and for the record, you're pretty tiny".
Olivia smiles. "But Fisher screams at night", Olivia says. "And I know that I'm pretty tiny".
"I don't care if Fisher screams, and neither does the twins", I say. "They would love to have you live with us because honestly they will be crushed once I tell them that Cody has left for Afghanistan. I would break down here and now if it weren't for them, I need to take care of her and we have that stupid trial to go to as well, but Cody should be there".
Olivia looks confused and I sigh. Vicky helps me explain to Olivia what has been going on for so long. But to get Olivia to understand why I took the twins away from our own mother, we had to go back all the way to when I was sixteen.
Once our story is finished, Olivia looks sad. "Oh Elle I'm so sorry", she says.
"Don't be", I say. "I just wanted Cody there, but he can't, I would love to have you there as support though".
"Of course, I'll be there, and Fisher too", she says.
"Please move in", I beg. “I think I need you more than you need me, to be honest”.
Olivia looks at me for a second.
"Okay", she says and I hug her, but only carefully because she still has Fisher in the baby carrier on her chest.
"Cody promised to Skype me tonight", I say. "Maybe Adam can do that with him so we both can see our boys".
"That would be wonderful", Olivia says.
I feel like I already have a strong bond with Olivia and I've known her for about an hour. But there's something about Olivia that makes me like her.
We all drive back to my apartment where the twins and Molly are.
“Elle!" Lila shouts. "Where were you and where's, Cody?"
They run up to us.
"Lila... Cody has left for Afghanistan, he had no other choice", I say.
The twins look at me for a second, trying to find out if I'm lying or not. But they know all too well when I'm lying. I'm not lying this time. And they know it.
"No..." Liv whines. "No, Cody!"
I take them in my arms. The twins are the only thing that keeps me sane. If I didn't have to take care of them, I would have a breakdown at this moment. But I can't. Not if I wanna win the trial.
And I have to win the trial. For their sake. The twins and Cody are my only joy in life. I can't keep Cody safe, but I can keep the twins safe. And that's what Cody wants me to do.
"Elle?" Lila sobs.
"Yes, baby girl?" I ask.
"What's that on your hand?" She asks.
"He purposed to her Lila!" Vicky shouts happily.
"He did what?!" the twins shout, looking up at me.
"He purposed to me", I say with a sad smile. "And girls, my friend Olivia is going to live with us, she and her newborn baby Fisher, her husband is a friend of Cody’s and also a soldier who had to leave as well".
The twins turn to Olivia and smile.
"Hello Olivia, I'm Lila, this is my sister Liv and our best friend Molly, so pleased to meet you", she babbles. "Your baby is so cute”.
"Thank you so much and I am also very pleased to meet you", Olivia says, suddenly in a better mood.
I am very happy that they seem to get along well together. Who knows when the boys will be back home? I want us all to get along.
From the looks of it, this will be going great, I’m sure of it. I mean the living situation. The emotional situation will be handled as we take on a new day. I think we will be able to handle it, we just have to try to not think a lot of catastrophic thoughts.
“I wish my name was Olivia or at least Livia”, Liv says. “Instead, I got stuck with just Liv, I mean look at Elle, her whole name is Eleonora, short Elle”.
We’ve had this discussion before, I love her name. I looked up her name once and in Swedish Liv means life, her name is beautiful.
"Oh Liv you're such a drama queen", I hear an unfamiliar voice.
I look to the side and see a younger version of Darren. This can only be Eric or possibly Darren in his younger years.
"Oh my god! Eric, I didn't see you there", I say.
He laughs. God, he has changed so much. First of all his voice. I mean what the hell happened to it? It sounded so cute and pure before. Now it sounds ... Manly, almost like Darren's.
"Eric, what are you doing here?" Darren asks his younger brother.
"Hanging out with my long-lost friends", he says dramatically, causing the twins and Molly to laugh. But then he looks at me. "I hope it's okay, Elle".
"Of course it is", I say.
"Can I talk to you in private?" Eric asks me and blushes.
I raise my eyebrows.
"Uhm... Sure", I say and follow him into the kitchen.
On the way I see the others look at me with raised eyebrows.
Eric stands by the sink and looks worried.
"What's wrong Eric?" I ask.
"Uhm... I was wondering..." He says but doesn't seem to get out another word.
"Hey sweetie, you don't need to feel embarrassed, just say want you wanted", I say to him.
"Well, I was wondering... If she wants to, can I ask Liv out on a date?" And now his cheeks must be overheated. Oh god. I've never seen any cheeks this red.
But I just smile like a dork. He wants my permission to ask Liv out on a date. Does he like her?
"You like her?" I ask.
He nods and looks down at the floor.
"Yeah always have, even when we lived in France", he says. "And now when I saw her, I just ... I couldn't stop smiling and I laugh at everything she says, she's so beautiful and she's just so wonderful and amazing".
Aw. I feel like my heart is going to melt. He really does like her.
"Ask her out Eric, I would be mad if you didn't, it's obvious you like her", I say, and he smiles shyly.
"Thank you Elle", he says and hugs me.
I hug him back. He's so sweet. Liv couldn't ask for a better guy than this one. He doesn't only respect her, but he respects me enough to ask me if it's okay if he asks Liv out.
"Come one, the others will start wondering where we went", I chuckle and take Eric’s hand and leads him out to the others again.
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