Chapter 13
We pulled up to the courthouse and when Ryder parked my stomach instantly started knotting up. Suddenly I felt too small and the building too big. The whole situation felt too big. I didn’t want to let go of Ryder. Instead, I wanted him to start the bike back up and drive away. I wished I could stay glued to him, in that moment, my arms wrapped around him, safe.
I was broken out of my thoughts to his voice. “Hey, it’s ok. Remember what I said.” He was holding my hands where I had them wrapped around his waist.
I gave him one more squeeze and then let go and got off the bike. I kept reminding myself that it was the final step and then that whole awful chapter of my life would finally be over. One foot in the front of the other was all I needed to do. Ryder stood next to me as I looked up at the courthouse. “Are you ready, pretty girl?”
He made me smile. “Yeah, let’s do this!” He grabbed my hand, and we went inside.
*
The hearing itself was fast, so fast and I refrained from looking over at Colin, but I could feel his evil eyes staring at me. The judge signed the divorce decree, finally making me a free woman. Suddenly, years of pain felt like it was melting at my feet. Ryder grabbed me and pulled me into a hug. “It’s over, Ryder.” I breathed into his chest, his arms wrapped completely around me.
Ryder was a great friend, but he smelled so good, and I wished so bad to be more than his friend. I stood there breathing him in. I knew he wasn’t looking for a relationship, and I knew he wouldn’t want someone with so much baggage, but I could stay in his arms forever. He’s become my sanctuary. “Come on, pretty girl. Let’s go celebrate.”
I smiled and stepped away from him and we started to leave the courtroom. When we got out into the hall, we were surprised to see everyone from the club there. Every single one of them, all the girls, were standing in a big group and when the courtroom doors opened, they yelled and screamed!
Lily ran up to me and hugged me. D came up to me and picked me up, making me laugh. D was a big old softie and he only showed that side to so many people I learned from Ryder. I also learned that Ryder handed me off to D the night of the storm and he watched over me until Ryder could get to me.
“What are you guys doing here?” I asked them.
Doc came up, “Calliope, this is a big day for you, so it’s a big day for us. JoElla has cooked up a feast in celebration back at the clubhouse.”
I was holding back tears but it was getting harder to keep them from falling. “You guys are so amazing. You’ve done so much for me. I don’t deserve you.”
Suddenly a voice spoke up that made the hairs on my neck stand on end. “Most whores don’t deserve anything.” I felt like I was going to be sick. As I went to turn around, Ryder was already on Colin beating the crap out of him. “Ryder, no! D, do something!”
D and Sawyer pulled Ryder back before the police could interfere and take Ryder away. “What did I tell you about talking to her?” Ryder spat at Colin.
Ryder’s eyes looked like he was ready to kill Colin. I went up to him and gently grabbed his face. “Ryder. Please. Look at me. I need you.” He slowly lowered his eyes to me. “Don’t get arrested. I need you here, not in jail. He’s not worth it.”
I could see Ryder start to calm down. Then D said, “Yeah, Ry, don’t go to jail. Calliope needs you.” And just as I was about to smile at him, he turned around and punched Colin once in his stomach and then knocked him out cold with a hit to his face. My hands flew to my mouth in shock. The police grabbed D, cuffed him, and read him his rights.
“We’ll get you out, D!” Doc said, laughing as they started to escort him out.
D looked at me, winked and said, “You’re free!”
That’s what broke the dam. Ryder wrapped his arms around me, and I cried into his chest. How did these people become my friends, my family? I loved them, each of them and I was so grateful for how good they were to me.
“Come on, Grace. Let’s go to the clubhouse and celebrate. Don’t worry about D. We’ll get him out and he’ll be at the clubhouse before dark.”
I nodded and Lily grabbed my hand. “Come on, girl! Let’s celebrate!”
*
Back at the clubhouse we were all eating and drinking and having a good time. It felt good. As promised, D was released, and he turned up at the clubhouse to join the party. I was glad he was there, and I gave him my thanks once more with a big hug.
Ryder came up to me and whispered in my ear, “Hey, pretty girl. Dance with me?”
I looked up at him and nodded yes. He makes me blush, all the time. He grabbed my hand and took me over to a corner of the room and we danced to Taste by Lorna Vallings. That song is so sexy. Ryder held me close and suddenly it felt like we were moving into new territory. I didn’t want to assume anything, but it felt different, it felt like more than friends.
It also felt crazy because I was newly divorced. Even though it had been months since I escaped Colin, it felt weird that I was only officially divorced by a few hours.
“Ryder…”
He squeezed me tighter. His nose near my ear, his breath grazing my skin, making my body do things I haven’t felt in months…no, years. “Yeah…” his voice was deep, dark, and heavy with whatever it was that we were feeling in that moment.
“I…um…I want you to kiss me…” Shit. I remember thinking I was crazy, and I couldn’t believe that had just fallen from my lips. What was I thinking? It was too soon.
Ryder brought his head up, much taller than me. He looked down and grabbed the side of my face with his right hand. His left still wrapped around me and sitting at the small of my back, squeezing me, pulling me close to him. “Are you sure, Grace? We don’t have to do anything but dance. It”s not why I asked you.”
My breathing was labored. We were so close. I couldn’t hear anything else around me except the lyrics to the song. It felt like no one else was around us and honestly, I didn’t care if anyone was. “Is it wrong?”
“No, Grace. It’s not wrong. But I don’t want you to feel like I’m pressuring you. I’m not. I’ll let you go right now if you want me to.”
“No!” My answer came out too fast. “I mean, don’t let me go. I’m sure, Ryder.”
He was rubbing the line of my jaw with his thumb, causing goosebumps to scatter on my arms. Our faces were so close together, exchanging breaths as we danced around what to do. Finally, I looked up at him and he slowly leaned in. “My Grace…” My breath hitched at his declaration and when I didn’t move, he finally leaned all the way in and kissed me. It was earth shattering as our mouths opened and our tongues collided. I felt like I couldn’t get enough of him or get close enough to him. I wanted to climb him, melt into him. Before I could move away to catch my breath, he scooped me up, and wrapped my legs around him. He held me under my ass with one arm and his other arm snaked up my back, his hand in my hair. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I kissed him again.
“Ryder, take me home. Please.” I was begging. I needed him. I needed to feel wanted. I wanted him to want me, all of me, just how I am. I didn’t know how that felt, to be wanted by someone who didn”t want to change everything about me.
Ryder led us out of the clubhouse and because we weren’t far from our house, only a block away, we rode home in the most dangerous way, but I didn’t even care. Ryder never let me go but he got on his bike, me still straddling him. “Don’t let go, Grace. Hold on tight because I’m never letting you go.”
I hooked my ankles around his waist, my arms around his neck and he took off.