Page 108 of Biker Orc Baby Daddy

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"You're not a disaster."

"I'm a single mom who fell for a fake biker and opened a glitter shop."

"You're a business owner who made a brave choice and built something beautiful."

She goes quiet. Then. Soft. "You're very good at reframing."

"It's my job."

"It's more than that."

Colum appears, grinning like he's won the lottery. "Phenomenal. Absolutely phenomenal. Did you see the turnout? Theengagement?"

"We saw," Cecie says.

"This is just the beginning. I'm thinking quarterly events. Maybe a family fun run. Ooh. A talent show."

"Colum—"

"Thank you both. Seriously. You made this." He claps my shoulder. Squeezes Cecie's hand. Jogs off toward the next crisis.

"He's exhausting," Cecie says.

"He's Colum."

The sun dips lower. Orange light paints the plaza. The band plays something slow. A few couples dance near the fountain.

Orry's fully asleep now. Cecie shifts him carefully, settling him in the stroller.

"We should pack up," she says.

"Probably."

Neither of us moves.

"Hey Gunther?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm glad you opened the envelope."

"Me too."

She bumps my shoulder. Light. "Even though I'm a disaster?"

"Especiallybecause you're a disaster."

She grins. Starts folding the table banner. I gather pamphlets. We work in comfortable silence, the plaza bustling around us, our tiny corner of it settling into something that feels like home.

Six months after the festival, I buy a ring.

Notbuy, exactly. Make.

I sit at my kitchen table with wire cutters, silver solder, and a YouTube tutorial playing on loop. The jeweler two blocks over offered to help. I declined. This needs to be mine.

The design is simple. A thin silver band with a small groove that holds a line of crushed mica. Sparkle embedded in structure. It takes four tries to get the solder clean. My fingers blister. Worth it.

I tuck the ring in Clarence's battery compartment. Cracked screen and all, he's still the safest place I know.

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