Chapter 287: Vows
*Just say what you feel. You’re saying it to me. Fuck everyone else. – Chance*
Rye looked at Chance as they stood before his president wearing dark jeans, a light teal oxford shirt and his cut. He had even bought a new pair of lace up motorcycle boots. Chance had replaced the standard black laces with custom bright teal ones. Admittedly, he liked the way it looked. What he liked even more was the way that her face lit up when she saw him changing the laces.
With Rye, it was the little things that meant the most. The small gestures that told her she was important to him. He knew it had been a long time since she believed that she was important. It was his mission to make sure that she knew that she was very important to him.
Chance couldn’t wait to see what she would do when Gremlin tattooed her name on his ring finger later. He knew she wasn’t ready for a tattoo of her own just yet. Someday, she would be ready, and he couldn’t wait to see a property tattoo on her back.
Soon enough, he would give her the cut with his property patch on it. Karan had told him that they had a long talk about the property patch and tattoo. Rye had some concerns about it and feared that she would end up like her mother, indebted to a man. Even if it was a man that she was going to spend the rest of her life with; the fear was still there.
Today, as she smiled at her soon-to-be husband, there was no fear.
“Yes. I do.” Rye whispered.
“I don’t have to ask you.” Trigg rolled his eyes at Chance.
“I’ll still tell you; I do.” Chance said.
“Flower boy, why do you put up with him?” Trigg asked Celt with a teasing grin.
“See that beautiful woman right there?” Celt pointed to his wife standing behind Rye. “Because of that idiot,” he cleared his throat, “S.O.B., I belong to her.”
After looking Mia up and down, he gave a low wolf-whistle and looked back at Celt. “That’s one hell of a reason.” Trigg agreed.
“Yeah, she is.” Celt agreed and his wife winked at him.
“You had your wedding last year.” Trigg reminded him. “You don’t have a speaking part this time.”
Celt mimed locking his lips and Trigg nodded.
“My granddaughter came up to me after Aramis and Megan’s wedding, she said that I was wrong.” Trigg made a face of mocked surprise. “Me? Wrong? That can’t be right.” He looked at his wife, “Shut up woman.”
“My sweet little Kimber, she said that wedding rings weren’t round as a symbol of love. No beginning, no end, blah blah blah and all that. I’m like, no? Then why are they round?”
Trigg handed over the rings. “And with the wisdom of a six-year-old, she tells me, it’s because our fingers are round.”
The place erupted in laughter as Trigg shrugged his shoulders and moved his hands in defeat. Rye was clutching the ring to her chest as Chance kissed her temple.
“If anyone has an argument to that, Kimber is probably still chasing a cat. Sorry, Knuckles.”
The girl in question sat between Knuckles and his cousin, Taz. The three cats were each curled up asleep in a lap. The cat in the lap of the little girl in a pink dress opened its eyes warily with every movement. As Trigg spoke of his granddaughter chasing them, the cat in her lap moved to the man’s shoulder and sat comfortably.
“You had some lovely things to say at the beginning, so you,” he smacked the back of Chance’s head, “shut up for a minute.”
Trigg looked at Rye with the fondness of a father. “Ryanne, I know that your road here has been long and difficult, and there are things that the two of you have shared with me that these assholes don’t need to know about. Is there anything that you want to tell this idiot?”
“S.O.B.” Chance muttered.
“Alana?” Trigg said in exasperation.
“What? I admit I’m a bitch.” Alana said and her children agreed as the rest of the crowd laughed.
“Sweetheart,” Trigg said gently to Rye, “give this *S.O.B.* some nice words.”
Rye took a deep breath and looked at the man who still had his hands on her waist. Every time that she tried to move away, he brought her a little closer, never forcing her, just encouraging.
“I said that I would not give you hollow words or empty promises, and I won’t. You have been a rock for me in some very troubled waters. You stepped up and asked to be a father for a tiny baby who was helpless and abandoned. You proved that there was more to you than what your reputation presented. And you are helping me to see what you see in me. Someday, I hope that I can give you what I can’t right now.”
“That’s all I ask for.” Chance murmured.
“Aww.” Trigg sighed. “That’s really fucking sweet. You going to give him that ring? Or hang on to it?”
Rye smiled as Chance held out his hand and she slid it on the ring finger.
“Okay, idiot, sorry, S.O.B. You have anything you want to add to this wonderful woman?”
Chance slid her ring on her finger. “Believe in me until you can believe in yourself because I believe in you. I love you.”
“Okay, idiot, you can kiss her.” Trigg said.
“S.O.B.” Mia quietly corrected, and Trigg gave her the I’m watching you motion with his hand.
Chance cupped the back of her head and kissed her tenderly. Rye moved in and pressed herself against him.
“That’s enough of that shit.” Trigg said nudging them apart.
Chance held Rye close and looked at Trigg. “You told me to kiss her. Now you want me to stop. Make up your damn mind.”
“Nessie made cakes. Quit kissing her.” The older man quipped as he rested his hands on their backs. “Ladies and gentlemen, I proudly introduce this wonderful young lady and this idiot as Mr. and Mrs. Timothy James … Lynch.”
As the guests stood up applauding, Rye looked at Chance confused. Smiling he ran a finger down her gray patch before caressing her cheek.
“You named him after your dad. I couldn’t take that away from him.” He said softly. “Or from you.”
“You can kiss her some more later. I want cake.” Trigg said before Chance could kiss Rye again.
“I hope you get diabetes.” Chance grumbled.
“Nessie can make really fucking good sugar free cakes too. I’m good either way.”
