Chapter 265: Call
*I’m sure he really did mean that you could call him for anything. – Cookie*
Chance was playing go fish with four of his cousin’s daughters. Molly and he had a long talk after he had left Alana’s house. Molly gave the advice he always gave.
Women will tell you what they want, you just must listen.
If they have a problem, they want you to fix, they will tell you; otherwise, shut up and listen.
Tell her she’s special, more importantly, *why* you think she’s special.
A long-lasting relationship will have times when you fall out of love each other. The key is not to do it at the same time.
Words are just that. Show her how you feel.
Now Chance sat at a poker table playing go fish for Hershey bars. He knew better than to challenge any of the girls to pool. Or poker. He was down to two bite size snickers.
Molly’s little pretties were ruthless.
Chance's phone rang and he was surprised to see that it was Rye. “Hey.”
“Chance?” he could hear the tears in her voice.
“Priss, come play for me.” He called as he stood up. Kissing each of their heads, he handed his cards to Molly’s oldest daughter and kissed her cheek. “Where are you at?”
“The house.”
“I’m on my way. I’ll be there in about twenty minutes.” He walked into the kitchen and kissed the cheek of the women. “I can get one of the brothers there sooner if you need them.”
“I’ll tell him you had to go.” Yvonne told him and Chance nodded pulling on his jacket and cut.
“No. You.”
“Okay. I’ll see you in twenty.”
He waited until she had agreed and then he pocketed his phone. There was a moment that he considered forgoing the helmet. But he pulled it on quickly and then his bike roared to life.
The thirty-minute drive took him just under twenty. All along the way, he feared being pulled over. Thankfully he did not pass any cops. Both lights were green.
He pulled up into the driveway passing his brother Werewolf sitting astride his bike at the curb. Knowing his family, Molly had sent out a group message. Werewolf had probably been the closest. The others would be on their way at a moment’s notice.
Taking off his helmet, Chance nodded at his brother on the way to the door. He knew that his oldest brother would stay right where he was until he knew everything was okay. The door was locked so Chance knocked.
A tearful Rye opened the door and flung herself into his arms. “It’s okay, duchess. I’m here. Do I need any help in solving this problem?”
“No. Just you.” She mumbled into his neck.
“Okay. See that big hairy guy at the end of your drive?”
Rye looked up and saw who he referred to. She tried to remember his name but could only think of Jacob. That didn’t seem right. “Yeah.”
“Give him a thumbs up.”
She did and Werewolf pulled on his helmet and started his bike. Chance carried her inside and shut and locked the door behind them. He hung his helmet up and tossed his keys on the table.
It felt natural and almost domestic to do those actions. He was thinking about this as he settled them on the couch with her on his lap.
He brushed light kisses on her head and smoothed her hair. His other arm remained anchored around her waist, not keeping her there, but letting her know she was safe. He didn’t bother with soothing sounds and empty promises of it would be okay.
Rye had called him when she had a problem. She had called him. She already knew that he would do everything that he could to make it better.
Chance did the only thing that seemed appropriate – he held her and offered her the safety and security that she desperately craved.
“You’re not going to ask what’s wrong?” Rye finally asked after several minutes.
“Is your life in danger?” he asked quietly.
“No.” Rye said with a sniffle.
“Mark was still there when I left Molly’s, so it has nothing to do with Michael. You’ll tell me when you’re ready.” He placed another kiss on the top of her head. “It’s something that is here,” he touched a finger to her temple, “and here.” He moved his finger to her heart. “I can’t fix that. I can only support you while you do that.”
Between Carly and Molly, he was really growing as a person. All because of the woman in his lap.
“You’re nothing like I thought you were.” She admitted.
“I guess tigers can change their stripes?” he said with a little chuckle.
She sat quietly for a while. He could tell that she was in deep thought and gave her the time she needed.
“After dad died, we moved in with mom’s cousin, Anthony. He made her go back on her medication. She did really good for a while. Then she started flushing her pills instead of taking them. He came home one day, and she was strung out on whatever she had gotten her hands on.”
There were a lot of pauses and hesitation as she spoke. Almost as if she was ashamed of herself, of where she came from and what she went through. All that Chance saw was her strength to make it out. To survive. To thrive.
“We were in Savanah for a while. Leigh Anne must have seen how it was getting. She tried to shelter me for a long time. It was after Savanah that we went to Anthony’s in Tampa. I’m not good at talking about this.”
“You tell me whatever you need to tell me. However, you need to tell me.” He encouraged.
“After Tampa we went to Mobile. It was in Mobile that Leigh Anne started locking me in the closet. Not as a punishment.”
“She was trying to keep you safe.”
Rye nodded. “Karan was helping me put stuff away earlier. And….”
“And Karan put some things in your closet.” Chance said and suddenly the empty closet in the apartment made sense.
“I tried to go in….” Rye started to hyperventilate at the thought.
“Shhhhh….” He soothed, rubbing circles on her back with his palm. With his other hand he fished out his phone and dialed a number.
“Everything okay?” Sticks asked as he answered the phone.
“Yeah, quick question. One of those armoire things. You got one in your shop?”
“There’s a few in the show room. You need one?” Sticks replied after thinking for a moment.
“Two. I may need some shelves too.” Chance said placing a finger over Rye’s mouth when she started to object.
“Give me thirty and I’ll meet you there.” Sticks said and then called out to Kilo and Molly. “Mark, hurry up and lose your game of pool.”
“Imogen?” Chance chuckled.
“Whooping that ass.” Sticks laughed. “You know the code if you get there first?”
“Yeah. Thirty.”
Chance ended the call and tipped Rye’s face towards his. “You need something to keep your clothes in. Something for Michael’s clothes and blankets. Are you okay with the pantry? Cookie can make it an open pantry.”
“I don’t want to be a problem to anyone.”
“Then we either make these changes or I move in.” he held her head as he leaned down and gently kissed her. Her mouth opened under slight pressure, and he barely slipped his tongue inside her mouth, before he was lifting his head.
“I have no idea what you’re doing to me.” Chance whispered as he rested his forehead against hers.
“I’m not doing anything.” Rye whispered back.
“Duchess, you have no idea what you are doing to me.” He smiled. “I like it. Every bit of this, whatever the hell it is, I like it.”
“I’m scared of what you make me feel.” She admitted quietly.
“I’m not going to hurt you.”
