Chapter 31
A few days later, me and my family were landing in Hawaii.
I booked us a house right on the beach. We had our own private stretch of the beach.
It was beautiful. The sky was that bright, clean blue that almost didn’t look real.
Sun sitting high, water clear enough to see straight through it, waves rolling in smooth and steady.
Perfect. Exactly what this was supposed to be. A reset. The twins were already running through the house yelling in excitement.
"Stop running guys!" Eva called after them, setting her purse down on the couch as she looked around.
I placed our bags by the door, watching her silently. Gauging to see if this was acceptable. She wasn't smiling but she wasn't frowning either. She nodded slowly and turned to me. "You did good."
"I always do." I smiled.
She smirked.
“You alright?” I asked, low.
“I should be asking you that,” she replied just as quietly.
My jaw flexed slightly. “I told you, baby, I’m good.”
She held my gaze for a second longer. Then nodded. “Okay, Bishop.”
I leaned down and kissed her. She kissed me back, but I felt that slight hesitation. I pulled back, brushing my thumb along her jaw. “Relax,” I murmured. “We’re out here now. Let's just enjoy our weekend. You got me.”
She exhaled slowly, her shoulders dropping just a little. "Do I?"
"You do," I reassured her.
The kids came thundering back down the hall, yelling about rooms and views and who got the bigger closet. They both charged at me, throwing their arms around my waist.
"Thanks, Dad!" they exclaimed together.
Wrapping my arms tightly around them, I kissed their foreheads.
"You're welcome. Glad you like it. Go get your swimsuits on, we'll go to the beach.
" They dashed back to their rooms. I turned to my wife.
"You don't have to worry about anything this weekend, aight?
I'll cook. Make sure the twins are good.
Clean. Whatever you need. I just want you to relax. "
Eva finally gave me a real smile. She grabbed my face in her hands and kissed me, her lips staying pressed to mine. "I love you, Bishop."
"I love you too, Eva."
We all changed and made our way to the beach. The twins were already halfway down the beach, racing each other toward the water.
“Slow down!” Eva called after them.
I chuckled, grabbing her hand and pulling her towards me. “They're good,” I said. “Let ‘em run.”
Eva glanced at me, then back at them. She smiled softly giving in.
We reached the water and the kids were already splashing, yelling, and calling for us.
“Come on!” BJ shouted. “You gotta get in!” He grabbed Eva's hand trying to pull her towards the water.
Eva laughed, shaking her head. “Give me a minute, son.” He let go and ran back towards the water.
I stepped out of my slides before walking straight into the water. It was warmer than I expected. The twins cheered like I did something impressive.
I smirked. “Glad to see y'all still so easily impressed by your dad.”
“Come deeper!” they yelled.
I waded in a little more, water rising up my thighs, then my waist. The warm sensation spreading over my pelvis, soaking me. A flashback hit me that made my groin tighten involuntarily. I closed my eyes. Saw her right there…
"Boss—" I heard her voice.
I stood there longer than I meant to.
“Bishop?” Eva’s voice cut through it. I blinked, turning my head toward her. She was watching me from the shore, brows pulled together. “You good?” she asked.
There it was again—that question. I nodded once. “Yeah.” I flashed a quick smile to ease her. I moved toward the kids before she could ask anything else. I grabbed BJ, tossing him into the water. Ava was next. They screamed and laughed as they tried their best to pull me under.
Normal.
Everything was normal.
Eva eventually came in too, easing into the water slower, her eyes still flicking to me every now and then. I made sure she didn’t sense anything was off. I stayed moving. Stayed engaged. Stayed there.
But every now and then my mind would drift just for a second. Her face. That feeling of being with her. In her. Memories I didn’t ask for. I swallowed it down every time. Forced myself back. Because this right here…this was real. This was mine.
And I wasn’t about to fuck that up.