Chapter 36
Chapter Thirty-Six
Iris
The Renaissance Fair was everything Iris remembered.
Even though she hadn’t been in years, it didn’t seem to have changed.
It had permanent structures, which probably helped, but she was pretty sure all the shops in those structures were still the same, too.
It was like stepping back in time, though not all the way back to the Renaissance. Just back to her childhood.
The only thing that really seemed to have changed were the acts.
Her head snapped around.
“Did that guy just say he needs a gag in his mouth?” Surely, she couldn’t have heard that correctly, but the audience laughing uproariously at the four-man music troupe on stage had definitely heard something funny.
Law glanced over.
“Possibly. Those are the Hooligans. They can get pretty raunchy. Come on, we have to get over to the joust, or we won’t be able to get seats.” Law tugged on her hand, and bemused, Iris followed.
They kept getting funny looks as they walked around, probably because Iris’ outfit resembled a tavern wench, the corset she’d borrowed from Angel pushing her boobs up like a shelf.
Law was wearing monk’s robes. Yeah, a celibate monk, he was not, but it worked well with his bald head.
She found it hilarious. Thankfully, he didn’t have to wear the sling any longer, so it didn’t detract from the look, making him appear very authentic…
like a very naughty monk. It was like being at the club, except there were a lot of kids running around.
As they passed by one of the taverns, Law slowed.
“Did you want to grab a drink?”
It was the third or fourth time he’d asked, and Iris answered the same way she had the other times.
“No, I’m good.” She really was, but Law brought them to a halt, his brow furrowed.
“You don’t have to not drink because of me.” He faced her head-on, so she could see his expression clearly. “I hit a point a long time ago where being around people who are drinking is fine.” He gestured around at the festival goers, and Iris had to laugh because… yeah.
Dragging everyone with them, the first thing Asad and Connor had done was hit the first bar they’d come to and order oyster shooters. Iris had demurred there as well since she didn’t like raw oysters.
Part of the reason she wasn’t drinking was because of Law, but she also didn’t feel the need to or even want to. There were lots of things to do and see, and while she enjoyed having a drink when the occasion warranted it, she was just fine without.
“I hit a point in my life where I don’t need to drink to enjoy myself,” she replied, squeezing his hand.
“I really am good. I’m having fun and don’t feel the need for a drink.
It’s also hot as balls, and I’m a little worried about dehydration.
Which… we should really check on the others when we meet back up with them. ”
They’d split up to do different things—as big as the grounds were, it was surprisingly hard to keep everyone together—and would regroup at the joust.
“I don’t want you to feel like you’re missing out on anything.” Law’s jaw worked, clenching and unclenching, trying to figure out what to say.
A rush of warmth filled Iris. He was such a good guy. Sure, he sometimes had a stick up his ass, but that’s why she was there to loosen him up. This was one of those times.
“If I suddenly start feeling I’m missing out on anything, I’ll be sure to let you know,” she teased.
The warning look he gave her made her laugh even harder.
God, she loved him. They’d been living together for a few weeks, and that hadn’t gone away.
She wasn’t looking for a new place to live at this point, though she probably should be.
He was more than healed enough to be on his own, but he hadn’t brought it up, so neither had she.
Suddenly, under his dark stare, she didn’t feel like she could hold back the words anymore. “I love you, Law.”
His reaction—eyes widening so far, they practically bulged, his jaw dropping to hang open—was more than a little satisfying.
“I know you probably think it’s too soon, but that’s how I feel. So, trust me, I’m not missing out on anything. I’m having a blast.” Iris smiled serenely, incredibly amused that Law was still slack-jawed. “I don’t expect you to say it back right now, by the way. I can wait till you’re ready.”
Did she want him to say the L-word? Of course, but if she’d learned anything about Law, it was he was a very deliberate person.
While she knew he cared about her deeply, she wasn’t sure he was in a position to be comfortable saying it back to her, and she’d known that would be the case.
Whereas she’d always been more of a “ready, fire, aim” person.
It had been on the tip of her tongue for days, and she was tired of holding back.
Whether or not he said it back was… well, not immaterial, but it didn’t change how she felt or what she’d wanted to say.
She felt lighter as if a weight had been lifted off her.
“Miss Iris, Miss Iris! Look! Mitch bought me a sword!” Ana, Domi’s daughter, came running up, brandishing the wooden weapon. Turning to her, Iris made an awed face. Truthfully, she was a little awed, mostly by how much the little girl’s outfit had changed since they’d parted ways an hour ago.
Angel had lent Iris a bunch of garb to give her ‘options,’ with instructions that her friends could use some as well if she wanted.
There had been enough options in different sizes that Iris, Avery, Domi, and Rae were all decked out.
Mitch had put on a knight’s costume he’d worn for Halloween, so while he didn’t look as authentic as Law, Asad, Connor, and Q, he fit right in with the crowds—only about half the people around them were dressed up.
Surrounded by people in garb, Nick had decided he needed an outfit, which had spurred Ana to ask if she could have an outfit, which had caused the group to split up for a bit.
That had been fine since Asad, Connor, and Q had wanted to go back for more oyster shooters, and Iris had wanted to see the jugglers.
After, she and Law had wandered until it was time to meet everyone at the joust.
Ana had made out like a bandit—not just a new sword but also a new purple dress, a little black vest with white lace that laced up the front, and a pink-and-purple flower crown.
The only thing that hadn’t changed was her sneakers, but since they were purple, they didn’t look completely incongruous with the rest of her outfit.
“My goodness, look at you! You’re a little lady knight.”
“A lady knight?” Ana asked, sounding fascinated, lowering the sword a bit as she stared up at Iris.
“Yes, like… like…” Hm. There weren’t any references Ana would recognize at her age that immediately came to mind. “Well, when you’re old enough, I’m going to introduce you to Alanna of Trebond, my favorite lady knight.”
“Cool!” Ana turned around to where Mitch and Domi were coming up, hand in hand. Mitch was grinning so wide, it nearly split his face, whereas Domi was shaking her head in resigned amusement. Iris had a feeling Mitch had done the majority of the purchasing.
“Where’s Rae?” she asked as their friends joined them. She had started off with them.
“In line for a crab pretzel, then she’ll join us.” Domi waved her hand behind her. “Let’s go see the joust.”
“I’m going to be a lady knight when I grow up!” Ana announced, and Mitch reached out to ruffle her hair.
“Damn right you are.”
Law
Coward. You’re a big, stinking coward.
Holding Iris’ hand and moving through the crowds, Law couldn’t stop the chiding thoughts filling his head.
To be fair, he’d been blindsided and fumbling to find the words when Ana came running up, but he wasn’t even trying to draw Iris to the side to tell her he loved her, too.
Would she think he was only saying it because she had?
He hadn’t known whether to say it back when she was telling him he didn’t have to, then Ana interrupted them, and it was too late.
Now, he felt like he’d lost the opportunity.
As they neared the joust, they could see their group of friends gathered at the bottom of the little hillside next to the jousting arena, right next to the fountain and lovers’ bridge.
Asad was taking a picture of Nick and Avery on the bridge.
Nick appeared to have bought a shirt and hat.
Iris cracked up when the two of them came off the bridge, and Nick’s lower half remained unchanged in his cargo shorts and sandals.
Law grinned. He always enjoyed the half and half look that so many new visitors, like Nick, ended up wearing.
“Oooh, we should get a picture, too,” Mitch said, grabbing Domi’s hand and pulling her toward the bridge.
Ana had already run ahead to show Connor her sword.
Much to the big guy’s confusion, she’d latched onto him immediately when she met him.
Maybe it was the Viking helmet, or maybe Ana had an instinct for knowing who the biggest softie in a group was.
“Do you want a picture?” he asked Iris, his mind already working furiously. Maybe being on Lover’s Bridge for a picture would be a good time to tell her he loved her. She’d stolen his thunder, but he could still make it special when he said it. Memorable.
“Sure.” The saucy look she sent his way was more than worthy of her wench attire, and he had to chuckle. Sliding his arm around her waist, they moved toward the bridge. Avery and Nick were making their way off one end while Mitch and Domi filed onto the other end.
The tiny fountain pond in front of the bridge had plenty of flowers and greenery and looked particularly pretty against the small white bridge.
Domi and Mitch moved to the center, where they posed for the picture, arms around each other, facing their friends, each with one hand on the rail in front of them.
Then, instead of turning to leave, Mitch turned toward Domi and went down on one knee.
Domi gasped, her hands flying to her mouth.
“I can’t see!” Ana wailed. Connor lifted her onto his shoulders, where she grabbed onto the horns of his Viking helmet, but Law was sure it didn’t help since the bridge railing was high enough, they could only see the top of Mitch’s head over it. Next to him, Iris burst out laughing.
“We can’t see you, Mitch. You’re too far down!” Rae yelled at him. “Get in front of the bridge to do it!”
Glancing at Rae, he could see that she was grinning. Unlike Domi, she obviously wasn’t particularly surprised.
“You’re all ruining the spontaneity and romance of the moment!” Despite that, Mitch popped up to his feet and pulled a now laughing Domi off the bridge and around to the front of the pond, where he dropped to one knee again.
The number of phones that came out in the meantime was epic, recording or taking pictures.
They’d drawn a bit of a crowd and not just strangers.
There were multiple people from Stronghold and Marquis at the fair—not surprising since the kink community loved Renn Fair—and a lot of them were among those watching Mitch’s proposal.
On his knee again, ring box in hand, Mitch cleared his throat.
“Domi, when I met you, I had no intention of being in a serious relationship, and neither did you. Obviously, I’ve changed my mind.”
Groaning, Domi covered her face with her hands, her shoulders shaking with laughter. Mitch was grinning like a fool. There was some confusion on the faces of people around them, but everyone who knew the two of them was shaking their heads, laughing, or both.
“I didn’t know when I was going to ask you, so I’ve been carrying this ring around for a few weeks, waiting for the perfect moment.
I thought this was it. I might have gotten it a little off, but you took a chance on me when I made a fool out of myself the last time.
I’m hoping you’ll do it again. Will you marry me? ”
“Say yes!” Ana yelled before her mom could answer, causing raucous laughter from the witnesses. With her sword held high, on top of a Viking’s shoulders, she made a rather threatening visage for being only six years old.
Lowering her hands from her face, Domi wagged her finger at her daughter before turning back to Mitch.
“You’re a twit, but you’re my twit,” she said.
“That’s Sir Twit to you,” he replied, causing another round of laughter, including those who probably thought he was referencing his knight costume and didn’t realize the double entendre. “So… that wasn’t an answer.”
“Yes, I will marry you,” she said, shaking her head. “As if there was ever really a question.”
Grinning, Mitch popped open the box and slid the ring onto Domi’s finger.
The crowd surged forward, filled with people wanting to congratulate them, and Iris was almost one of them, but Law held her back. Turning to look at him, questions filling her eyes, she tilted her head, trying to figure out what was going on. His mouth was dry, but…
Well, proposals were romantic moments, right?
And he needed to say it back.
He pulled Iris toward him, his hands on her hips. A little smile curved her lips as she went willingly, curiously.
Law cleared his throat.
“In the light of grand declarations and making fools of ourselves… I want you to know that I love you, too.”
Happiness flashed across her face, her smile brighter than the sun.
“I know,” she smugly. “I just didn’t know if you knew.”
Growling under his breath, Law pulled her in for a kiss. They didn’t need a bridge or even a grand declaration. They just needed each other.
She was everything he wanted for his future, and he would never let her go.
Law and disorder. A perfect match.
Dun-dun.