The Rebel's Own(28)
“Do I look okay?”
“Perfect,” he whispered. “You look perfect.”
Ryan held out his hand for her and she took it. She felt her knees weaken as he threaded his fingers with hers. He took a shaky step towards her, uncertainty in his eyes, as he lowered his head to kiss her. She wanted him to kiss her on the lips, but he gave her a peck on the cheek. “I wouldn’t want to mess up your makeup.”
Kennedy felt a pang of disappointment. She didn’t give a hoot about the Chanel gloss she wore. She would rather have Ryan’s lips on hers.
“We are going in a limo, but our cars are already at the restaurant. That way we can leave whenever you want. I know with the pregnancy you’ll get tired pretty quickly, and then there’s Riley. I don’t know how much longer that sugar high is going to keep him awake.”
“Ryan,” she cut in, “Your team won the Super Bowl. You are the most valuable player. It’s your night. I will stay as long as you want me to stay. And Riley—I mean RJ—he can sleep in tomorrow.”
“You are not upset about him wanting to be called RJ instead of Riley, are you?”
“Ryan is already his name. We’ll just make it his first name when we go change his name to Carville.”
His eyebrows rose in surprise. “Change his name… So you’re going to stay then? After the transplant?”
He sounded breathless, and Kennedy’s own breath caught. “Yes,” she whispered.
A slow smile spread over Ryan’s face. “Even when I do stuff that doesn’t make me husband of the year?”
Kennedy grinned, but just nodded in response.
Her husband leaned in and gave her the kiss she’d been waiting for. “Thank you.”
• • •
Ryan had gotten rid of the tie and jacket halfway into the victory party. Already he had received a lot of compliments on how beautiful his wife looked. His heart was still in his throat, it hadn’t come down yet from the moment Kennedy was tugged into the room by an eager Riley—no, RJ. He had to get used to calling his son that. He and Kennedy had agreed to go to the lawyer’s office first thing in the morning and start the process of changing Riley’s name. He couldn’t be more proud.
He watched as his son played with the other children, not once did he look too tired or sick. And Kennedy seemed to fit right in with the wives. He watched as she laughed, tactfully refusing the champagne on offer and drinking the ginger ale he had sent to her.
“What are you going to do during the off season?” Matt, standing next to him, asked.
“I’m going to start getting ready for the new baby. Plus, Riley’s recovery is going to have us tied up.”
“He seems fine now. I feel so bad for your mother and Rebecca. They finally gave up chasing him around the room.”
“I’ve never seen him like this. So full of energy,” Ryan choked on the emotion. When he first heard about his son, he’d been horrified. A part of him was still sure he was going to lose him. Ryan didn’t feel like he deserved a son after what he did to Kennedy. But it was for Kennedy’s sake that he prayed every day for the life of his children, and it seemed like God was listening.
“Your rugrat just toppled a waiter. Doesn’t he have a cage?” Clara’s shrill voice cut into his happy thoughts suddenly.
“Dear God, why me?” Ryan groaned as he turned to face her.
“I’ll go find your rugrat,” Matt volunteered.
Just then Riley’s voice rang into the air, “Uncle Matt, Uncle Matt, look!” He slid across the room, balancing on a serving tray, a waiter hot on his heels.
Ryan chanced a glance at Kennedy, half expecting her to be angry. But she was laughing as she side-stepped out of their son’s way.
“You should get him a leash.”
“Clara, to what do I owe the displeasure,” Ryan ground out.
Like a dial turning, Clara switched from her spiteful self to flirtatious in a second. She rubbed up against Ryan, and he took a step back in disgust. “I thought that we could take that trip to Paris, like we always talked about.”
“Why would I do that?”
“You promised me.” She pouted her red bottom lip. “You said when you win the Super Bowl we could finally take a trip.”
“I’m a married man, Clara.”
“So? We can fix that.”
“Fix what?” Ryan chuckled, distracted as Riley ran past them minus his tuxedo jacket, with Matt and the waiter behind him. “There is nothing to fix. I’m happy.”
“You couldn’t be. They are bound to embarrass you. Look, your son is causing chaos. And even if you dressed her in expensive clothing and jewelry, she will always be from the wrong side of the tracks.” Clara reached out and stroked the side of his face. “You and I are meant to be, don’t you see that?”