Chapter 250: Birthday
*If you’re going to be at the clubhouse later, I’ll make sure that your birthday is happy. – Random Club Bunny*
After Chance made sure that Rye was okay, he went and ate breakfast at the Shack just like usual. He flirted with the girls there. Joked with the guys. Accepted homemade cards from his nieces and nephews.
He knew if he strayed from his usual routine, people would ask questions. And he had no answers for them. Or even for himself.
When he got back to the daycare, his office was decorated with balloons and a giant banner. There were lots of cards from the classes. And a few from the single moms. Chance worried about the grin that Karan gave him. When he opened the beautifully wrapped box, happy birthday confetti exploded out all over his office.
Her laughter filled their offices and the reception area.
“It wasn’t a glitter bomb!” Karan called out as she held her stomach due to her laughter.
Shaking his head and watching the small multicolored cakes, party hats and gift boxes along with HAPPY BIRTHDAY written in a few different fonts fall, he looked across the reception area and Karan realized she had made a mistake.
“Glitter bomb, huh?”
“You wouldn’t!” she laughed.
Taking his hair out of its ponytail to get the rest of the confetti out of his hair, he grinned at her.
“You would.” She said as she sobered.
Sitting at his confetti covered desk, he searched the internet for glitter bombs.
Karan and Cookie took him to lunch at the Cookie Jar. His sister, Mia, picked a piece of confetti out of his hair.
“Don’t ask.” Chance growled and Karan laughed.
“Wasn’t planning on it.” Mia laughed as she gave him a hug. “Twins want to know if we’re having dinner at the Chinese buffet tonight.”
It was the twins and Chance’s favorite place to eat. At the thought of it, he was suddenly craving General Tsao’s chicken and pepper beef. Wiping the imaginary drool from his bearded chin, he looked at his sister.
“Hell, yeah. And tell those twins of your that I expect to have a cake.”
“Of course.” She laughed as she walked away.
The twins adored their uncle Chance who let them get away with things that their parents didn’t know about. Or so they thought. As the only single uncle, Chance could get away with things that his three brothers could not.
After lunch, Rye walked her class down and they each gave him a hug and a homemade card. He tried to act like the one from Rye herself didn’t have special meaning.
He held her a little closer than the kids and for just a little longer. She was still guarded around him. Kept her distance. Especially after falling apart on him this morning.
Rye never seemed to relax. The most relaxed he ever saw her was with Michael before she knew she was not alone. Even at the Shack around Karan and Zee, she remained guarded.
After the day kids were picked up and his workday was over, Chance headed for dinner with his family. Glancing across the daycare parking lot, he saw Rye unlocking her ugly brown Volvo.
“Hey, Rye?”
She looked up as Chance approached her. “Oh, hey.”
There it was. Fear. She scanned the parking lot. Tightened her grip on her black flashlight.
Again, as always, he wanted to find whoever was responsible. The man would never hurt anyone else after Chance got his hands on the bastard.
“Don’t know if you heard, but it’s my birthday.” He grinned.
“I heard that, but I just assumed that you just, poof, appeared one day.” Rye said trying to not be a bitch. She wasn’t sure if she was succeeding.
Chance smiled at her, and Rye found herself smiling back.
“I’m meeting my family at a Chinese restaurant.” he rubbed the back of his neck nervously. “I know it’s unusual…. Fuck. Look, I know that all you’re going to do is go spend the next few hours with Michael. Shit, this is not coming out right.” He ran a hand through his hair, pulling it out of the low ponytail.
“What are you trying to ask?” Rye asked bluntly. “What is it that you want?”
“I really enjoyed holding Michael. And talking to you. Will you go to dinner with me? And then let me go see Michael with you?”
“Yeah.” She mumbled.
“Really?” he asked excitedly.
“I … I can’t raise him by myself.” She whispered. She looked away from him and her voice grew stronger.
“I can teach him a lot of things. But I can’t teach him how to be a man. You’re not my favorite person. But you are kind, and everyone says that you’re a good guy and the kids,” she looked over and smiled at him, “they adore you. Just don’t teach him to be a slut.”
Smiling at her, he reached out to touch her cheek. She flinched before his hand got to her. It stayed right where it was in the air between them. Slowly, he lowered his hand.
“Someday, I hope you trust me enough to tell me who hurt you so badly.” Chance said softly.
“Maybe someday.” She answered in a soft whisper.
“Have you ever talked to anyone about it?”
“No.” She shook her head. “It’s hard to talk about it.”
He nodded and reached out and touched her wrist with his finger. The gentle touch had her guard going back in place. Pulling his hand back, he looked at her with compassion.
“I’m sorry.” He told her. “I should not have touched you without permission. Please still go tonight.”
She nodded and he smiled. “Should I follow you?”
“Yeah.” He shifted and stopped himself. “Sorry, I was about to kiss your cheek.”
It was something that he did with the women that were important to him. Somehow, somewhere between the arguments and insults, she became important to him.
“Maybe someday.” Rye agreed and turned to get in her car.
Chance walked back to his bike and pulled his phone out of his inside cut pocket. Sending a quick text message to the family chat, he let them know that Rye would be coming with him.
*Please be nice.*
Chance led the way out of the parking lot with Rye following. Neither knew of the woman still in her office that watched the scene play out.
