Chapter 24
24
Bishop
It’s just a normal Wednesday night for me, which means watching tv and binging 30 for 30 I have recorded. Except there’s one small difference tonight. A beautiful girl with wild hair spread out on my lap is the best interruption to my mundane night that I could think of.
Anais flips through her Kindle, reading one of her text books she has downloaded. Her thick mane is draped over my thighs and I run my fingers through it, as best I can with all its wildness. She wears only my old Magnolia Creek High School baseball t-shirt. It’s a hundred years old, but it’s worn thin and so comfortable.
She found it when I was sorting through a stack of shirts for her to wear. She begged for me to let her wear it, which was unnecessary because she can have anything she wants. She simply has to smile and I’ll rope the moon for her.
“Ugh. I don’t understand this. It’s like a foreign language.” She drops her device on her stomach and throws her arm over her eyes.
“What is it, baby girl?” I mute the tv and grab her Kindle from where it rests .
I scan the page and agree. It feels like decades that I was in college and this all looks like Sanskrit and nothing I’ve ever seen.
“What class is this for?”
“The Art of Mathematics,” she says with dramatic flair. “I assumed because the description said the focus is on the process of thinking and not formulas that it would be easy. Clearly, it is not.”
I bring my lips to her forehead and kiss it tenderly. “Want me to call Cami? She’s a math genius. She and her husband ran a holdings company and she ran a lot of the financials and day to day operations of all these other businesses. I don’t even know exactly, other companies bought or managed other companies.”
“Maybe,” she whines. “I think I just need to rest my brain for a bit. Hey. I have an idea.”
She pops up, practically slamming into my face, and turns towards me. She crawls her way over and straddles my thighs.
“I’m in need of a tutor. Know of any good ones?” Her teeth pinch the corner of her lip and she gets a wicked gleam in her eyes.
“What subject are you needing help in?”
“I’m studying Anatomy. By braille.” She takes my hand and slides it under her t-shirt.
My thumb rolls over her taut nipples and her body visibly shivers.
“Well, you see, when I do this,” I lick the column of her neck and nip at her jaw. “It makes these,” I say, pinching her nipples. “Harden. That’s a chemical reaction.”
Her head falls back and her eyes close when I continue to kiss her neck.
“And when those harden, they send a signal to your–” The doorbell rings and we both jump, this time actually smacking our heads together.
I scramble for my phone and open up the camera and see CeCe standing at my door.
“It’s CeCe,” I tell Anais, who is already panic grabbing items lying around. “I’ll go see what she wants, you can go up to my room.”
She freezes like a deer in headlights then rushes up the stairs so quickly you can almost s ee the little cartoon dust as she goes. I pound down the stairs and take a deep breath before opening the door.
“Hey C. To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?” I pull her into a hug and escort her inside.
“Can’t I just want to visit my favorite guy for no reason?” She begins her way up the stairs and sweat beads on my lip.
“I’m not your favorite guy, babe.” Her heels click on the hardwoods as she steps into the living room. “But I won’t complain about getting a visit from you. Want something to drink?”
“Sure. Just water,” she says and sits down on a barstool at the kitchen counter.
“I have cherry flavored sparkling water.”
“Since when do you drink that, Bishop Michaels?” I grab a bottle and pop the top before filling a glass with ice and setting them both in front of her.
“I saw it at the grocery store and thought I’d try it,” is what I tell her, but the truth is that Anais brought them over.
“So…what’s up mama?”
CeCe pours the water into her glass and takes a small sip. “Ooo. That’s good. I have a friend who is coming to game one and she really wants to meet you.”
A chill spreads across my body because how I am supposed to explain that there is no need to introduce me to any woman ever again.
“Oh? It’s not Gabby, is it?” I ask, trying to play it cool.
“No, it’s not Gabby. She told me she thinks you weren’t interested.” I give her an apologetic grin. “It’s okay. She actually met a guy at a friend’s wedding and it sounds like it’s working out.”
“That’s good.”
“Yeah. So, my friend. Her name is Melina, she’s super cute, a little bit younger than you, and so smart. I think you two would really hit it off. Of course she heard Gabby and I talking about you, and immediately went to my socials to check you out. Like every other woman with two working eyes, she said you’re gorgeous and needs to meet you ASAP. ”
I gulp down the words that are dying to break free. Instead I tell her, “Um. Well, I’m not really looking to get into a relationship or anything right now.”
“I didn’t tell you to marry her. Just meet her and see what you think. She’s going to be in our suite so I think it’ll be a perfect time for you two to get to know one another.” CeCe chugs down the rest of her water and stands.
“Why are you so insistent on setting me up?” I ask her, truly curious.
CeCe sets the empty glass in the sink and turns, resting her back against the counter. “Because we all want to see you with someone. And not just anyone but the one. You’re the last one in our group and we want to see you happy and in love.”
“I’m not the last one. You’re forgetting about Hayes and Cat,” I remind her.
“Our high school group. It was always the five of us and now we’re one person shy of a married group of friends.” She takes a few steps to meet me and places her hands on my biceps. “We want to raise our families together so that they can have the same bond that we do.”
“And you think this Melina is the one for me?” I ask, skeptically.
She gives me a shrug and a, “Maybe. Guess we’ll find out in two days.”
I throw my arm over her shoulders and walk beside her as she makes her way back towards the stairs. Before she can start to descend, a loud thump sounds from the third floor.
“What was that?” Her body swings in the direction of the ascending stairs and I have to think quickly.
“Uh, I think I left the balcony doors open. Wind probably knocked something over. No big deal. I’ll check it later.” I grip her shoulders and redirect her back to her original destination and we make our way to the front door.
I open it for her and she steps one foot out before turning back to me .
“See you in a couple days. And Bish,” she calls out. “Keep an open mind, okay. You never know when your soulmate will pop up.”
I give her a dip of my chin and kiss her cheek before following her out to where her car sits parked and wait until I see the tail lights fade out of sight. I rush back inside, taking the stairs three at a time and burst into my room to see Anais sitting in the middle of my bed, her legs crossed and her chin resting in her hands.
“What’s wrong, baby?” I slowly sit down on the edge of the bed but she won’t meet my eyes.
“Did you really mean what you said? That you aren’t looking for a relationship?” she pouts.
I grab her and haul her into my lap, cradling her close. “Anais, you know that isn’t true. I had to tell CeCe something and it couldn’t be that I already found my person. That’s you, in case you didn’t figure it out.”
Her eyes lift to meet mine and I brush my thumb across her smooth cheek.
“You’re not embarrassed by me?”
“What? Are you serious?” she nods her head and I shake mine. “Listen to me and take notes if you need to. When I said there would never be others, I meant it. I know it’s still early in our relationship, but I feel it in my soul. Cami said it best when she said I found my twin flame. It didn’t make much sense at first, but now I get it. We burn for each other. Others will only snuff us out, but together we burn bright and hot.”
“I’m sorry I eavesdropped. I was worried that maybe Cami told CeCe and she was coming to tell you that she was going to Uncle Nix about us.”
“Was the thump I heard you?” I tap her chin.
“I tripped rushing back up the stairs.” Her face turns red with embarrassment.
With a small laugh and I press my lips to hers and move her so that she straddles my waist. “I’m hungry. I think I need a snack.”
She tilts her head and furrows her brow. “Bishop. We ate like an hour ago. You’re hungry again? ”
I nod. “Yes, but not for the kind of food you’re thinking of. I need a taste of this.” I slide my hand under her shirt and across her stomach and down until I reach her hot cunt that is already dripping with want.
I dip my fingers into her underwear and plunge two fingers inside of her. I curl them, giving her a small sample of what’s to come, then remove my fingers and stick them straight into my mouth.
“Mm. Perfect.” I lift her up and toss her onto the bed, then roll over on top of her. “My favorite.”
She spreads her legs wide and I bury my head between them, then spend the next hour reminding her she’s mine.
I watch Anais from across the owner’s suite as she talks animatedly with Cat and Cami. Game one of the series is set to start soon and the suite is quickly filling up with friends and family. We have yet to see CeCe or Luca as they are making their rounds speaking with business associates and giving last minute wishes of luck to the team.
“Think they’re going to do it again?” A voice asks just as a hand clamps on my shoulder.
I look over and see Vaughan standing there with a smile. “Hell yeah they are. You doubt our boy? I’m putting money on Nix throwing a no hitter”
“He is throwing hotter than ever. Maybe it has something to do with that fiery little redhead by his side.”
“It’s possible,” I agree.
We continue to chat about the game when cheers divert our attention to the new arr ivals that walk through the door. Luca steps in, holding tight onto CeCe’s hand, both with huge smiles on their faces. They’re dressed to the nines in Wranglers colors but that isn’t what stands out most. It’s the beautiful woman who comes walking in behind CeCe that has many people doing a double take.
All except me as I immediately turn to Anais. My eyes find hers already staring at me and they glisten with moisture. She quickly looks at the woman walking in then back to me, her eyes blinking rapidly. I give her a discreet shake of my head that I hope will let her know she is not to worry.
She spins around, her thick mane swirling around her, and I’m left staring at her back.
“Bishop,” CeCe calls from behind me.
I look over at her and see Luca and the woman flanking her side.
“Hey beautiful. How are you?” I lean in to give her a hug and kiss her cheek. “Luca. You ready to win another one?”
He shakes my hand with a firm grip and a nod. “Assolutamente.”
“Bish, I want you to meet my friend,” CeCe interrupts. “This is Melina. Melina, this is Bishop.”
I hold my hand out and Melina grips it. “Nice to meet you, Melina.”
“Yes. Absolutely.” She bats her lashes at me and gives me a saucy smile that does absolutely nothing for me.
It’s not that she isn’t beautiful, because she is. Smooth brown skin, amber colored eyes and a dazzling smile. The thing is, there isn’t a person walking this Earth that could match the beauty, inside and out, of my butterfly.
“I’ll be right back. Let me say hello to the rest of the crew.” CeCe winks at me and saunters off to where Cami, Cat and Anais all stare at me. Cat is smiling with a twinkle in her eye like she just witnessed a love match. Cami’s face is hard and her gaze cold like I’ve betrayed her, and my butterfly looks like I shot an arrow straight through her heart.
I want so badly to just tell everyone that searching for my match is useless because I’ve already found her. I’m ready to march down to the field and lay it all out for Nix right now, but I know Anais is still working up the courage to spill the truth.
“So, Bishop,” Melina purrs, drawing my attention away from my girl. “CeCe tells me you played baseball.”
“I did. I was a catcher but I’ve been retired for about five years now.”
She bites her lip, overtly sexual and I want to tell her to just stop.
“Wow. You still look like you could play ball right now. Maybe you should talk to Luca about putting you behind the plate.” She reaches out and touches my arm and I jerk back like I’ve been burned.
“Excuse me. Hey. Hi. Can I borrow Bishop for a moment?” Cami stomps right over and takes my hand, yanking me away without waiting for an answer.
I’m practically thrown into a corner and witness Cami’s face turn from sweet and caring to the wickedness of Medusa.
“What the fuck are you doing, Bishop?” She grits through clenched teeth.
“Woah. Why’re you cussing, Cami-girl?” My ears can’t believe what they are hearing as Cami very rarely cusses.
“Don’t Bishop Jermaine. Anais is over there looking like you just ripped her heart from her chest and stomped all over it.”
“Hey. Calm down a moment. I had nothing to do with the woman being here or talking to me. That’s all your girl, CeCe. She’s trying to help me find my soulmate. I told her not to bother but apparently she’d already told her friend I was available.”
Cami smacks my chest and I flinch. “Well she wouldn’t need to do that if you’d come clean to everyone about you and Ana.”
My arms hang heavy at my sides and I drop my head back. “Don’t you think I would if I could? I promised Anais I’d wait until after the series. We both decided that it wouldn’t be a good idea to drop this in Nix’s lap during the most crucial time of the season. You know it would fuck with his head, and I couldn’t forgive myself if I screwed up his shot at a second title. We are six games at max away from telling him. Until then, I can’t tell everyone but him. He’s already going to put me in the h ospital when he finds out. Let’s try to avoid relying on a breathing tube if we can.”
“What’re you two doing over here? Bishop, you left Melina all alone.” CeCe sneaks up behind us, surprising both Cami and me.
“Tell her, Bishop,” Cami growls and I plead with my eyes to let it go.
“Tell me what?” CeCe stands with her arms resting on her belly while Cami stands stiff with her arms crossed over her chest.
“Cam…” I try, but she only arches her brow and purses her lips.
“Did we miss the party invite?”
“Jesus Christ,” I moan when Vaughan and Hayes come walking. “Why don’t I just get on the fucking loud speaker and make an announcement?”
“That would work,” Cami sasses.
“What’s going on? What’re y’all talking about?” Vaughan looks between me and the girls, waiting for someone to answer.
“I have no idea. I just walked up right before you.”
“Goddammit, Camille. Out in the hallway. All of you, now,” I bark and march off without checking to see if they follow.
“Should I get Luca and Anais?” CeCe asks and I simply nod my head.
I push my way out into the quiet hallway and turn so that I face the group. CeCe, Luca and Anais are the last ones to join us and now seven sets of eyes stare at me.
“So what is it that you have to tell us?” Vaughan asks, impatiently rubbing his hands together.
My eyes catch Anais’ and she gives me a short jerk of her head. It’s too late now. The ball has left the pitcher's hand and all I can do is give it a wide target and hope it lands safely.
“I am seeing someone, so I need you all to quit trying to set me up on dates,” I say plainly.
Gasps sound amongst the group with CeCe being the first one to speak up.
“Well who is she? When can we meet her?” Her smile is wide and the light in her eyes is pure happiness .
“You already have met her. In fact, you know her quite well.” Everyone goes silent, each one searching the face of the others for the slightest clue.
Cami looks straight at Vaughan whose eyes slowly grow bigger and bigger until his jaw drops with a, “oh shit.”
“What? What’s oh shit?” Cat asks, her head flinging between Vaughan, Cami and I.
I look over to Anais who is chewing her lip, and Cat follows my eye line to Anais then back to me. Then back to Anais.
“Oh…my…God,” she finally says.
“Can we stop with all the veiled guesses? Who is it, Bishop?” CeCe stomps her foot and Luca rubs her lower back and whispers something in her ear that has her exhaling a slow breath.
I pull in a gulp of air and say, “Anais and I are together.”
Like a scene straight out of a movie, they all move as one as they turn to watch her reaction for either confirmation or denial. Her response is to shrug her shoulders and smile tensely.
“Are you kidding me?” CeCe screeches.
“Shhh, C. Please. I was not planning on telling you any of this tonight, so I’m sorry about the delivery of the message.”
Anais pushes her way through to come stand by my side and takes my hand in hers.
“Uncle Nix doesn’t know yet. And neither does Viv.”
“No. Anais. What are you doing?” CeCe reaches out to her as if she’s going to tug her away from me, but only touches her hand.
“What we’re doing is giving up the fight to stay away from each other, and giving in to what seems so right. And we plan to tell Uncle Nix, but we’re waiting until after the series. What do you think would happen if we told him something this big right as he’s working towards his second title?” she asks.
“He’d quit baseball, kidnap you, take you to a remote corner of the world, and lock you in a tower,” Vaughan quickly spits out. “Just spitballing here. As a dad.”
“Look. We’re going to tell him but until then, can you all just keep it quiet? We want h im to hear it from us.” It’s a big ask, I know, but it’s the one I need from them most of all.
“We won’t tell him, but you better do it soon,” Cami warns, pointing a finger in my face.
I nod and they begin to file out of the hallway and back into the suite. I usher Anais ahead of me and before I can step back in, CeCe comes charging at me, pushing my chest until I’m smacked against the wall.
“What the fuck are you doing, Bish? This is nuts. She’s a child.”
“She’s not a child, C. She’s younger, yes, but she’s an adult. Remind me, how much older is Luca than you?” I cross my arms over my chest, waiting for her to realize her error in judgment.
“That’s different,” she sneers. “We were both adults when we came together.”
“She is of sound mind and more than capable of making her own decisions. What is bothering you most about this? Her age, or the fact that you can’t play happy matchmaker to put me with someone you think is best for me?”
“She’s your best friend's niece!” Her voice is shrill and matches the look on her face.
“And you’re my best friend! You can either support me and help me when it comes time to break this to Nix, or you can leave me be. You go on with your merry life and I’ll go on with mine. But I won’t stand here and listen to you tell me all the ways this is wrong. It’s not. This is the most sure I’ve felt about anything in my life.”
I wait, hoping and praying that CeCe will understand and support me. But she stays still and quiet and a small piece of my heart breaks. I shake my head and move past her, back into the suite where I spend the rest of the night trying to ward off Melina’s unrelenting flirting with the help of my friends. At least those who want to see me happy no matter the consequence that may come my way.