18
Elizabeth blinked in surprise at the question. Did she hear right? Did Lucky actually propose to her? Wow. What was she going to say? Maybe he didn’t say it. Let her have him repeat it. Just to be sure.
"What did you say?" Elizabeth asked, her voice quivering, trying to keep the swell of hope out of her voice.
"Marry me. Become Mrs. Lucky Spencer," Lucky gripped her hand tightly. "I’ll make you happy. I swear."
Elizabeth bit her lip. Of course, she had no doubt that he’d make her happy. He does that without even trying. But could she make him happy? After all, she had betrayed him once. Did he really trust her not to do it again? Was their relationship back on the right track? Marriage was such a big step…where they even ready to go that far?
"Elizabeth," Luck’s voice grew nervous. What if she said no? What if she thought marrying him was the worst mistake she could make? She did love him. He saw that much in her eyes; but did she love him enough? "Will you?"
Smiling, remembering all they had shared since their reunion, she suddenly knew the answer. Lucky were the stars, the rain. Twice he had picked her up out of devastation and made her want to live again. There was only one true answer to his question.
"Yes," She nodded her eyes bright with indescribable joy. "Yes Lucky. I’ll marry you."
"Woo hoo!" Lucky swept her up into his arms and twirled her around. "You’ve made me the happiest man on earth!" Lucky sat her back on her feet, covering her soft lips with his own.
"Mmm, We should go tell the others," Elizabeth pulled away, wanting to drown in his kiss, but knew that she couldn’t. Not at the moment anyway.
Lucky stopped kissing her and looked into her eyes. She was so beautiful and she was going to be his forever. He was the luckiest man in the world. Of course, he couldn’t wait to declare it to the world. "Let’s go."
Together, hand in hand, Lucky and Elizabeth returned to the table. Only Nikolas and Gia remained. Emily and Zander had left with Robin and Jason to prepare for the wedding.
"Em left?" Lucky frowned. He was a bit disappointed that his oldest friend wouldn’t be there to hear the happy news.
"Robin wanted to plan for the wedding. So they went to Kelly’s," Gia snorted. In her opinion, Emily was being a very bad friend, indeed. Maybe she didn’t mean to be, but she was.
"Oh," Elizabeth looked at her hands, her happiness dimming a little. He had been hoping that her and Emily could work out their problems tonight. But that obviously wasn’t going to happen.
"Cowboy!" Luke greeted. Laura followed behind him. "Great show tonight!"
"Thanks dad," Lucky blushed. "Hey, I’m glad that you two are here. I have an announcement."
"What is it sweetie?" Laura asked, concern shining in her eyes. Even though the brainwashing incident was over, she still couldn’t help worrying over her son.
Wrapping a warm arm around Elizabeth and pulling her close, Lucky smiled happily. This was going to make both of is parents so happy. They both adored Elizabeth and having her as a daughter in law was a dream come true. "Mom, Dad. Nikolas, Gia…Elizabeth and I are ecstatic to announce our engagement. We’re getting married!"
At first, the small group stared at Lucky and Elizabeth as if they had another head growing out of the side of their necks. Then Everyone except for Nikolas exploded in a burst of congratulations and how happy they were. Nikolas’s lack of joy didn’t go unnoticed by Lucky and Gia. It was time for another talk. Lucky wanted his best man to be happy about the coming event.
"Cowboy, why don’t your mom and I take Liz to my office and give her tips on the art of being a Spencer?" Luke patted Lucky on the back, sensing the tension between the brothers. "In fact, Gia can come with. Laura can council her about Nikki there as well."
"That’s a great idea dad," Lucky smiled gratefully. Even after everything that had happened between them, Luke and Lucky still had that bond where they knew what the other was thinking.
"You don’t mind do you?" Gia asked, really wanting to join the others.
"Go ahead Sparkie. Lucky and I have to talk anyway," Nikolas kissed her tenderly. As soon as the others were out of earshot, Nikolas threw down his napkin and glared at his brother. "I can’t believe this. Have you completely lost your mind?"
"Nikolas, we’ve talked about this. I love Elizabeth and she loves me."
"Really? Did she accept your proposal because she loved you or because she wanted to stick it to Jason? Think about it Lucky."
Lucky sighed. He wished Nikolas would try to understand. Everything would be so much easier if he did. "This has nothing to do with Jason. It has to do with Elizabeth and me wanting to be together for the rest of our lives. When are you going to be able to accept that?"
Nikolas glared at the ground. He didn’t know when he would be able to accept it. Maybe he never would be able to. "I don’t agree with this Lucky."
"Fine. Don’t agree. But
accept. Nikolas, she makes me happy. Happier then I’ve ever
been in a long time. The only thing that can ruin that is if you
refuse to accept this, because I want you to be my best
man."
Nikolas’s eyes widened in shock. "Are you
serious?"
Lucky nodded. "Of course. You’re not only my brother, but also my best friend. So will you? Accept this and be my best man?"
Nikolas glared at the table, feeling himself giving in. He couldn’t deny Lucky anything anymore. If his brother wanted his acceptance of both the marriage and the position of best man that’s what Nikolas will give him. "Ok. Fine. I don’t agree that you should move as fast as you’re moving…but I accept it and I’ll be your best man."
Lucky grinned happily and hugged his brother. Now everything was perfect…well almost, since Nikolas still wasn’t happy. But at least he’s accepted that Elizabeth was a permanent fixture in Lucky’s life. That was all he could ever want.
"Is everything ok?" Elizabeth and Gia returned. Both looked at the boys in concern, hoping that they had worked out whatever it was that needed to be taken care of.
"Everything’s great. Nikolas is going to be my best man," Lucky laughed. "So…did my folks impart their wisdom of old married lives onto you?"
"Everything they knew," Elizabeth grinned setting down next to Lucky. As she watched Lucky talk with his brother and friend, her love for him overwhelmed her. How could she have ever thought that she could love anyone but him? Jason was nothing to her. He had never been anything but a stupid girl’s crush. An attainable infatuation that soon crashed. But Lucky was the real thing. He was the Best. The Best there is.
The End