Chapter 36
THIRTY-SIX
Aspen
“It’s not fair. The rest of my friends are all going!” Fallon shouts at me, angry with me that I’m not letting her stay overnight at a boy’s house the way her friends are.
“Life isn’t fair. The sooner you realize that, the better.”
“You’re heartless. You have no idea what it’s like. Your boyfriend lived with you at my age!”
“He was not my boyfriend. He was your uncle’s friend, and he lived in the bunkhouse. Your grandfather would never have allowed me to have a sleepover with boys at your age, let alone a boyfriend.”
“Jacob isn’t my boyfriend. He’s a friend.” She whirls on Bishop. “So you never spent the night in the ranch house?”
Bishop freezes, not expecting to be called out, and his gaze flicks to meet mine in question. Fallon latches on to his hesitation.
“Remember, you promised you would never lie to me. I hope you’re not going to break promises already.” Fallon holds him with a piercing gaze that I know all too well.
“You need to focus on the here and now. Because what Bishop did years ago doesn’t have any relevance to what you’re going to be allowed to do in this house. In this house, we have rules.”
“You mean the house that’s in the middle of a casino. That house?”
“Fallon!” I snap, my patience finally wearing thin.
I take a breath, ready to yell but trying to keep myself from shouting again.
I’m finding my center when Bishop steps in, and now all my senses are on edge, hoping that this doesn’t spiral.
He’s still so new to this, and Fallon can be relentless when she’s mad enough to fight.
“Fallon, your mother does everything with you in mind. Your home is here because it’s close to your family, and it’s safe.
Which is your mom’s primary concern—your safety.
It’s the reason she doesn’t want you at some strange boy’s house all night.
The world we grew up in isn’t the same one you’re living in now.
I’m sorry if that means rules we didn’t have, but that does not mean you can speak to your mom with that kind of disrespect.
Using my offer of honesty to try to twist my arm or pit me against your mom won’t work.
We’re a team.” Bishop’s voice booms with authority, and he has Fallon’s rapt attention.
“If you want to apologize, we can go back to all of us being on the same team and discuss alternatives that might make everyone happy.”
Fallon’s arms cross over her chest, and she slumps in her chair, her face clouded with ongoing irritation, but she looks at me after a moment, her gaze softening and her lower lip quivering before she speaks again.
“I’m sorry. I’m not trying to do anything unsafe.
I just already feel left out at school. All these kids know each other and have forever.
I’m the new kid, no matter what I do, and then I finally get invited to something.
If I’m the only one who can’t go to this movie and sleepover with them, I’ll be the one on the outside again.
You told me to try to find somewhere I fit in, and then I do, and now I can’t even hang out with them. ”
“What if you go to the movie and I pick you up?” Bishop offers. I already know the answer to that question, but he’s going to have to learn some of this dad stuff on his own.
“No. No way. Having my dad pick me up from the movies? Sarah will tease me forever about that.”
“Well, if Sarah teases you, she’s not much of a friend.” I point out the obvious, but the look Fallon gives me tells me she doesn’t want to hear it.
“These kids are walking to Jake’s house?” Bishop asks Fallon like he’s clarifying a bullet point before proceeding.
“Yes.”
“Then I’ll talk to your Uncle Levi and see if one of the security guys can work a late shift and pick you up—”
“That’s not any better.” Fallon cuts him off to complain.
“Let him finish.” I give Fallon a look, and she presses her lips together.
“On their motorcycle. You’ll have to wear a helmet and a leather jacket. But he can drive you around the block to my truck, where I’ll be waiting. You can tell your friends and Jake that you have plans later that night, but you can make the movie, and your ride is picking you up after.”
Usually, I’d be upset about the suggestion of the motorcycle, but around the block where he can’t go much over twenty-five, and with one of Levi’s guys who knows his life will be on the line if he hurts my daughter, I’m willing to give a little ground to win some back.
I’m impressed by Bishop’s ability to come up with a solution like this on the fly.
Also, more than a little impressed at Bishop going full dad mode right now. I had no idea he had this in him.
“That could maybe work. He’s not going to be ancient, is he? I don’t want someone your age. That would be weird.”
“There are a couple of younger guys. I’ll see what I can do.”
“I guess. If he’s not old. That could work. I still would rather spend the night.”
“But if you don’t have that choice, this will work?” Bishop asks.
“Yes.”
“Then it’s settled. I’ll work on talking to Uncle Levi. You can tell your friends you have plans, but you’re seeing what you can do so you can at least make the movie.”
“Okay.” It’s a reluctant agreement, but an agreement all the same.
“But for tonight, I want you to go to your room and work on homework.”
“But—” she starts to protest.
“No buts. You were still sassy as hell tonight. So if you want to go to this movie, you’d better be on your best behavior this week. That means getting a head start on the homework I know you have.” I level her with a sharp look.
“Fine.” She huffs and starts to get up without taking her plate.
“Your plate and your glass.” Bishop reminds her before I can, and she does as he instructs. “I’ll be in later to see if you need any help with the math we were working on.”
Fallon puts her things in the kitchen and goes to her room, shutting the door behind her.
I do the same, retreating to our bedroom instead.
I need a minute myself because my stomach is doing little flips, and my heart has picked up its pace.
I’m not sure if I’m still coming down from the adrenaline of the fight or if I’m crushing on my own damn husband.