Chapter 26 Delaney
DELANEY
My wish is that you attract someone whose favorite place in the world is standing next to you.
Speaking from experience, it’s a pretty spectacular feeling.
—Delaney’s Secret Thoughts
It’s weird being in Jamie and Ashton’s house, knowing Ryker lived here until the worst night of my life. That night he stayed with me, and looking back, he never left. It’s hard to imagine how much his life changed. We were both thrown into chaos, but at least I got to stay in my home.
My tiny apartment could have fit in the garage of this house and there’d still be space left to move. Even the house we’re living in now is nowhere near the size of this one, but I wouldn’t want it to be. I love our house. It’s perfect.
The kettle sings, and I pour two cups of tea and move into the living room as Ryker comes down the stairs, freshly showered, monitor in hand, and a pair of black Kings sweats hanging low on his hips. No one should be as sexy as my husband. It really isn’t fair to the rest of the world.
“I made you a cup of tea.” I hold one out for him as I pull my leg up under me and sit down on the couch.
He takes it from my hand and sits it on the coffee table, concern shining in his blue eyes. “What’s going on, baby?”
“Sit down, Ryker.” My throat nearly closes around the words, and I watch while he drops down next to me. “I spoke with Olivia while you were upstairs.”
“Okay, and . . . ?” He throws his arm along the back of the couch and pulls me closer to him, always needing to touch me.
God, I love that.
“And the reporters who asked you about my dad were right. He took a plea deal. He’ll get a twenty-year sentence with the possibility of parole after ten.
She’s not sure what he had to do to get the deal yet.
But after everything he did, he could be out in ten years.
I don’t know how that’s fair.” My stomach cramps with the thought of him getting out and staying here, close to me and Ashton and Kyrie.
“Were they even going to notify you?” he asks, his need to protect me always showing. “What the fuck?”
“I don’t know what the plan was, but I know Ashton wasn’t made aware yet either. She would have said something earlier.” I settle in against him, soaking in his strength. His warmth. Scared to admit how much having him here means to me.
“So what do you want to do now?” he pushes, already in crisis-management mode. And why wouldn’t he be? That’s where we were born. Where we became an us. In the middle of a crisis.
“I guess that’s up to you,” I say as calmly as I can, fighting to hide how every minute of this conversation kills me just a little bit more inside because I know it’s leading to this. I pull both legs up in front of me and rest my teacup on top of them. “You’re off the hook, pretty boy.”
“What?” His hand goes to my face, lifting it so he can see me more clearly.
“They cleared you. You’re not going to be arrested. You’re not going to be tried. You’re not going to jail. You’re safe. So this doesn’t have to be your battle. It’s still early, so I’m sure we could have our marriage annulled if we—”
“Stop,” he cuts me off, his hand sliding to the back of my head and digging into my hair.
“We’re not getting an annulment, Delaney.
I don’t want to be off any damn hook. I am hooked.
I want to be hooked. I married you. I chose you.
I love you. If you want to get rid of me, you’re going to have to come up with another way because I’m not giving you an annulment.
Till death do us part, Delaney. And we’re both still breathing. ”
“Say it again,” I whisper, my heart racing and my mind playing catch-up.
“I’m not giving you an annulment,” he reiterates, and I shake my head.
Twisting, I move my teacup to the coffee table and climb into Ryker’s lap, my hand sliding up his neck and over his lips. “No. The other thing.”
His lips curve up into that sexy grin, and I know he’s realized what I want to hear. A hand moves to my back and pulls me closer. “Till death do us part?”
I shake my head.
“I want to be hooked?” The cocky ass lifts a brow, daring me to push him, and I just shake my head again.
He ghosts his lips over mine, a hint of a smile lingering as he holds me close. “You want me to tell you I love you? Because I do.”
Oh God . . . Tears burn the backs of my eyes.
“Or how about I don’t want to live without you in my life?
I want to wake up every morning next to you and go to bed every night with you in my arms. I want to make a family with you.
I want to give you the world. I want to grow old with you, Delaney.
By my side. As my partner. I meant it when I told the whole family that we might not have started out how I expected, but it was always going to be you, Lane.
You and me.” Ryker sweeps a kiss over my mouth, and I run my tongue along his lips. “You and me, baby.”
“You and me,” I breathe against him as the door opens behind us, and I jump before I realize it’s just Finn.
“Jesus Christ. You have your own house to get laid in. Go fuck on that couch.”
I bury my face in Ryker’s neck, pretty sure I should be dying of humiliation. But when Ryker stands with me in his arms and starts walking, I get over it pretty quickly.
“Kyrie’s asleep, and we’re going to my room. You might want to stay down here for a bit or put your headphones on.”
Oh my God.
“Seriously? I’m fucking tired, and I have to work tomorrow,” Finn bitches, but Ryker’s already walking away. “You fucking suck.”
He nips my lips and smacks my ass. “Only if I’m lucky.”
It’s safe to say, he did indeed get lucky.