Page 118 of Biker Orc Baby Daddy
"Cecie. I. Okay." He unfolds it. "I wrote this down because I knew I'd forget. But now I'm reading it and it sounds dumb."
"It's not dumb," I say.
"It's really dumb." He glances at the paper. Crumples it. "Forget it. I'll wing it."
"Gunther—"
"Sis. I spent a year thinking about a woman I couldn't find. And when I finally did, she was holding our son and looking at me like I was a stranger. Which. Fair. I was." He takes my other hand. "You could've run. Could've kept me at arm's length. But you didn't. You let me in. Let me learn. Let me be a dad. And now. Now I get to be your husband. Which is. It's everything."
My vision blurs.
"I promise to show up. To be present. To change diapers and balance spreadsheets and hold your hand when things get hard. I promise to be the man you and Orry deserve. Even when I'm fumbling. Especially when I'm fumbling."
"Gunther." My voice cracks.
"I love you. Both of you. And this new little one." He touches my stomach. Gentle. "I love this family. And I'm. I'm so glad you said yes."
Colum's dabbing his eyes. Half the crowd's doing the same.
"Cecie," Colum prompts. "Your turn."
I don't have notes. Didn't plan anything. But the words come anyway.
"I thought I had it figured out. Business. Baby. Independence. I didn't need anyone. Didn'twantanyone. And then you showed up in your stupid glasses and your pocket protector and you. You just. Stayed."
Gunther's grinning through tears.
"You didn't run when things got complicated. Didn't flinch when Orry threw up on your favourite shirt. Didn't blink when I told you I was pregnant again. You just. Rolled up your sleeves and got to work. Which is. The sexiest thing I've ever seen."
Laughter. Wolf whistles from the Fishborn crew.
"I promise to let you in. To stop pretending I can do everything alone. To build this life with you. Mess and all. I promise to love you. To laugh with you. To let you be the dorky, wonderful, slightly obsessive man you are. Because that man? He's mine. And I'm keeping him."
Gunther's crying now. Full on.
"I love you," I say. "Let's do this."
Colum sniffles. "Rings. Someone. Rings."
Gunther's best man, a quiet orc analyst from Fishborn, steps forward. Hands over two bands.
Gunther slides mine on first. Simple silver. Tiny mica stone set in the centre.
"Sparkle and structure," he says.
"Perfect."
I slide his on. Thicker. Etched with a pattern his mother designed.
Colum raises his hands. "By the power vested in me by the internet and the state of. Wherever we are. I now pronounce you married. Kiss. Do it. Everyone's waiting."
Gunther cups my face. Kisses me.
The crowd erupts.
Orry shrieks. Music starts. Drums and strings.
We pull apart. Gunther's grinning. I'm grinning.
