Page 180 of The Archer Brothers

I remember. Are you still there?

My love: Yes.

We are on our way.

I pocket my phone and check with the rest to see if they’re good with meeting the rest of the bridal party at the cantina. Tucker proclaims he’s in need of a margarita, while Nate is suddenly hungry for a burrito. I don’t care what I eat or if I eat. I want to get to Ryley and make sure she’s okay. I know she says she is, but until I can touch and see her, I won’t believe what she’s telling me.

One of the best things I like about Jensen is that the man knows how to drive. He knows all the short-cuts and doesn’t waste any time getting back to the bridge and to the base. When we walk into the restaurant, EJ runs to Ryley to tell her all about his suit, and then asks Lois where Grace is. It seems Chloe offered to babysit Grace, with Carter’s watchful eye in the background.

I motion for Ryley to come chat with me, and she excuses herself from the table. We go outside and I wrap my arms around her, holding her tightly to my chest. “What happened?”

“It seems so silly now, but when we got out of the car, I saw the intersection and it all came rushing back to me. I hate having these thoughts and I haven’t had them in such a long time.” Because we moved. “I just want life to be normal.”

Me too, but it’ll never happen. I’ll never believe Lawson was the ringleader in the entire operation. He was just the one with some power and exercised it.

I cup her face with my hands and tilt her head so she’s looking at me. “We left normal behind in Washington. We talked about this. I’m going to be on alert, all the time, wondering who is lurking in the bushes.”

“We didn’t have normal in Washington. We lived in a secure house.”

“And our new one will be secure after this weekend. Nate and I have everything sitting in that ridiculous small garage. I’ll know if someone even looks at our house sideways.”

“I don’t want to live like we’re in a prison.”

“We won’t be, but you can’t blame me for wanting protection. I need to know who lurks in the darkness. I lost six years with you and EJ, and I don’t want to lose anymore.” Ryley nods and rises up onto her toes to offer me a kiss. I take it, greedily. “I love you, Ry. You and our son are the most important people in my life, and I’ll have to be dead before I let anything happen to you.”

“I know and I love you for it. I just don’t want to be scared. This is where we are meant to live, and I can’t let some demon take that away from me. From us.” She kisses me again. “Come on, the chips are as delicious as I remember and now that you guys are here, it gives us an excuse to order more.” Ryley takes my hand and leads me into the cantina. The seating has been rearranged and now everyone, except Nate and Lois, are sitting with their partner. And on the table is a pitcher of margaritas and a couple baskets of tortilla chips. Suddenly, I’m starving.

---