Chapter 274: Meltdown
*Mia, babe, I’m headed over to the Shack with Chance. – Celt*
Rye’s teeth began to chatter as she sat in the hospital parking lot. Turning the key, she looked around and realized that the sun had already set. She didn’t want to go to the house, it was for Michael. Other than work, there was only one other place that she could think of to go.
As if on autopilot, Rye went to the Shack. The man at the gate waved as she passed. Her regular spot was still open, and she did as everyone told her to do. Left the key fob in the cup holder.
While she had stayed here, she had only gone to her room and the kitchen. Once she had gone to Karan’s room for ice cream and gossip. She really wasn’t good at that. Add it to the list of failures.
Rye sat at the bar and looked up to see a woman only a few years older than herself. She had multiple piercings, a few face and neck tattoos, pink hair and pink eyes with dark purple stars.
“Your eyes are awesome.” The woman said and held out a hand with several tattoos and rings. A good two dozen gold and silver bangles jingled on her wrist. “I’m Noel. What do you want?”
“Rye.” She replied shaking the girl’s hand.
Swiftly, Noel grabbed several beers and popped the lids off before sitting them on the bar.
“How much are drinks?” Rye asked.
“Club guests don’t pay, sugar.” A man close to her own age said as he leaned against the bar. “T-bone. Put her drinks on my tab.”
“No can do, prospect.” Noel told the clean-cut blonde. He had light brown eyes and an easy grin. His build was stout, but not bulky. Had she been looking for a man, he would be in the running. But she wasn’t.
Maybe she should.
Maybe being a stuck-up virgin bitch was just not what she wanted anymore. Maybe she should have sex and then she might be good enough for someone. Anyone.
But this man with his easy grin and kind eyes was not who she wanted.
“Tequila.” Rye finally said, thinking of the bottles that her mom always had around.
“You got it.” Noel said grabbed two shot glasses. After pouring out two heavy shots, she handed one to Rye and tapped the other against it. “What are we drinking to?”
“Failure.” Rye said. Noel repeated it and downed the shot quickly. Rye followed suit and made a face.
“First time having Patron?” Noel asked pouring Rye a second shot. She nodded as she watched the bartender get more beers. “Keep at it, you’ll get better.”
Rye downed the second shot and then the third. It was at the fourth that the tears began to slip out of her eyes. She was staring at her shot glass when a large, tattooed hand removed it. The voice that went with the hand said something and a water bottle was placed in front of her.
Someone was on the other side of her and spoke softly. It may have been English, but it was hard to understand with the accent. And the tequila.
The woman with the lyrical voice kept talking, or singing, Rye wasn’t sure which. Someone was rubbing her back and her tears flowed harder and faster. Then she was being pulled into strong arms that were becoming very familiar to her.
“I’m here, Duchess.” Chance said and she collapsed into his embrace.
“They took him.” She sobbed.
“I know, Rye. But we’re going to get our little Michael back.” He promised kissing her hair.
“Everybody leaves me.” She whispered. “I’m not good enough. I can’t do anything.”
“Yes, you are. You’re perfect.”
“I’m worth six months’ rent and nothing more.” She countered. “But only once.”
Nessie touched Chance’s arm and he looked over and saw bright blue eyes looking at him. “It’s time for yeh to let go. Yeh need to tell her.”
“You’re worth so much more.” Chance said as he turned his attention back to Rye. “You’re worth everything.” He tipped her face up with a knuckle under her chin. “You are my everything.”
“I’m the daughter of a whore. The only thing I have of any value is my virginity. I have nothing. I don’t even have Michael now. I held him during his withdrawal. I fed him. I kept him warm. I loved him the best I could. And it wasn’t enough.” She sobbed. “I’m nothing.”
“You are Michael’s world. You are his anchor in the fucked-up life your sister gave him.” He smiled at her. “You’re his mother. You may not have given birth to him, but you gave him life. You gave him a chance at life. You gave me a chance at redemption.”
“But they took him from me.”
“And we’re going to get him back. If I know Celt, he’s already working on it.”
“Why?”
“Because Saints stay. No matter how hard or how ugly things get, Saints stay.” He ignored the look that Nessie was giving him. He just continued to look at the tear-stained face of the woman he loved. His smile brightened as he realized that he did love her.
“That’s it, lad. Now, let go.” Nessie whispered as she passed by him on her way to his mother.
“Because I love you.”
“Why?”
Chance kissed her temple and stroked her gray patch. “Because your sweet, kind, caring. And you survived a hell that I could not even imagine. You worked for everything that you have. You called me out on my bullshit ways. You are so much better than me in so many ways and I don’t deserve anyone as good as you.”
He held her to his chest and kissed the top of her head before picking her up and setting her on the bar so that she was eye level with him.
“You dropped everything for your sister and her son. You are still attending class and graduating early. Just like you did with high school. You’re so smart and bright and just wonderful.”
Chance took her hands in his own and kissed one and then the other. “The kids love you. My mom and sister think that you could walk on water. Karan adores you. Michael and I love you. You’re the best thing that has ever happened to either of us.”
“You held him through the worst part of his withdrawal. You loved him through the hardest days of his life. You were his strength when he had none. You were my compass when I had lost my way. You’ve been the light for both of us.”
Rye sniffled looking at him. “I can’t even cook. How am I going to take care of a baby?”
Without even looking up from the group chat he was having with his father and sister; Celt shrugged his shoulders where he was propped against the bar. “Didn’t stop my mom from having nine of us. Besides, badly kept secret is that all of Alana’s kids can cook.”
“Really?” Chance asked dryly giving him a go to hell look.
“Really. Do you have any type of guardianship?” the large red head asked.
“Emergency guardianship until my sister’s parental rights are terminated.” Rye said quietly as she swiped away tears.
“You have papers showing that?” he asked as his phone rang. “Hang on, MK.”
“At the house.” Rye said quietly.
“Home.” Celt softly corrected.
“I think I’m going to be sick.” Rye told Chance.
“Come on.” He lifted her off the bar and Alana put an arm around her shoulders.
“We’ve got her.” His mom said guiding her to the bars lady’s room.
“Damn are you ever fucked.” Celt grinned at his friend before turning his attention to his phone.
