Page 51 of Raggedy Dan
Chapter Eighteen
Riley
Ink & Iron 2.0 smelled like fresh paint, new ink, six months of hard work, and a life’s worth of second chances.
Their grand reopening party spilled into the street with bikes lined up like soldiers, kids running around with balloons, and Ella teaching downward dog to a line of giggling old ladies on yoga mats in the parking lot.Mosha had claimed the fancy new display case as his throne, tail flicking at anyone who got too close to the piercing jewelry.
Riley stood on a ladder, finishing the last feather on a massive phoenix mural that covered the entire back wall.The bird was rising out of flames made from the melted metal of her old bike’s tank—salvaged pieces welded into the design like scars turned into strength.
Dan watched from below, arms crossed, no bandana.Scars on full display in the bright afternoon sun.He hadn’t worn one since the night of the fire.
Riley climbed down, hands black with paint, and walked straight into his arms.
“Marry me,” he said.Again.Like he did every single day.
She kissed the worst of the scars on his cheek.“Already did, remember?”They’d gone to the courthouse and had a justice of the peace joining.
“My woman needs more than that.My woman deserves a special day.”He dropped to one knee right there in front of God, club, and half the town.Pulled a little black box from his cut.
Inside was a diamond so big it looked ridiculous when he placed it on her paint-and-ink-stained finger.
“Marry me again,” he said, voice rough.“In front of everybody.So the whole world knows you fixed what was broken.”
Riley’s eyes filled.She nodded before he even finished.
Later, after another courthouse ceremony with the entire club as witnesses, after the cake (which Chicken Nugget promptly demolished), Dan took her to the new shop, left the sign flipped to CLOSED, and carried his wife to the tattoo chair.
He sterilized her left ring finger with alcohol wipes, eyes locked on hers the whole time.
“Ready?”
“Do your worst, Raggedy Dan.”
The needle buzzed.
Line by line, he tattooed in elegant script that wrapped all the way around her finger twice, like a ring that could never be removed.
Property of Raggedy Dan
