7. Mystery
MYSTERY
BLUE
Bishop has some nerve, warning me against having a little fun. Because lets be for real, nobody in their right mind would go against Bishop’s crazy ass. And trying anything with me is exactly what that would mean. Especially since he told all of the Hellhounds that I was off limits.
Slam and I were just enjoying a little slow dance.
I haven’t seen him in years, and we were just catching up.
The New Mexico chapter of the Hounds just stopped through before they continued on to wherever they were going.
We didn’t get into the details because that’s none of my business, but I was just glad to see my friend.
Unfortunately, Bishop showed up to rain on my good time. I’ve been doing my due diligence in the clinic, then taking my behind home. After tonight, I decided to stop hanging out so much and get on with my life. I can’t continue this game with Bishop.
I had planned to dance with Slam, then head home. What I didn’t plan on is having Bishop do his best impression of a neanderthal. Even if Slam and I had something going, it’s not like Bishop wants me.
I don’t know what Bishop’s problem is anyways, and I don’t want to find out. I already saw Trixie’s funky ass hanging around, and the last thing I want to do is argue with a bitch over a man that ain’t mine.
Anyone with eyes can see that Bishop and I have chemistry. He’s fighting it and he’s full of excuses on the reasons why. But the reasons don’t matter because we both know that he’s just full of shit. If Bishop doesn’t want me, then so be it.
But in the past, when I’ve tried to move on, Bishop somehow reminds me how much I want him.
He’d reel me in with sweet words and playful flirting, then I’d look up, and he’d be gone to fuck some random.
Each time he did it, it would hurt a little more.
We became friends, but he continued to play with my emotions.
This time I refuse to get sucked back into his game. I’ll come here for work, and that’s it. After I pay off the debt, I’ll stay far away from the Hellhounds and Bishop.
“Hey, Blue. I thought you left,” Sassy says, sitting down beside me.
“I was just about to,” I say, smiling at her.
“Yeah, I saw Bishop showing his ass. I don’t get into people’s business, but you helped me out when I needed you. So, I’m going to do the same.” Sassy looks at me so seriously that I have to put my beer down to pay attention.
“Okay, shoot.” I look at her, nodding.
“I’m not making excuses for Bishop because he’s a grown man. Hell, you’ve known him longer than I have, but I can tell you he’s serious about you. The way these chicks throw themselves at him, and he just waves them off, is interesting to see.”
“He doesn’t wave all of them off,” I respond, narrowing my eyes at Trixie.
The bitch keeps staring at me from across the room. Every time I look up, I’m looking at her dusty ass. Trixie has been trying to mark her territory since the beginning. Her problem is that she doesn’t know that the property she’s trying to claim is unavailable.
“He’s just running. I’ve seen it a million times before. You either play his game, or…”
I cut Sassy off mid-sentence. “I’m too old to be playing games, and if I’m too old, then Bishop is definitely too old.”
Sassy chuckles, and I give her a genuine smile. I don’t need to hear her advice to know what I’m going to do about Bishop’s stubborn ass. It’s time I get on with my life. I’m not chasing no man, but especially a man that don’t wanna be caught.
“Well, it sounds like you’ve made up your mind already.” Sassy smiles.
“I have,” I sigh, resigned. “It’s time I take a much-needed break from this world. I can still work part-time for Dr. Caesar and make the money I need. But hanging out after is something I can’t do anymore.”
“I feel you, girl. I’ll miss you around here. You know it’s not that many of us,” Sassy chuckles.
I stand and hug her. “I’ll miss you too. But you do know we can hang out outside of the Hounds, right?”
“I would love that. It would give me some time away from the fifty-eleven kids I got,” Sassy replies, returning my hug.
We laugh again, and I finally feel at ease. It wasn’t a hard decision, but I know it’s the right thing for me to do. I just need to stick to my guns and do it.
I’ve been working my ass off for the last month, and I’m halfway to my goal. What can I say, working for an illegal medical facility pays well. It’s a good thing that I’m almost done because avoiding Bishop when I’m there is getting harder.
Tashari has been back for the last three weeks, so I’m already working part-time.
But I have just picked up a few more shifts at the hospital so I can make up the difference.
Hopefully, my mom is smart enough not to let this shit happen again.
I know she’s a grown woman, but with her addiction, it’s hard to protect her.
I know I shouldn’t keep covering for her, but she’s my mom. I feel responsible for her well-being even though I’m her child. I guess after losing my dad, I just can’t stomach the thought of losing my mom too.
“Girl, are you okay? You look like we need to be treating you,” Tracy, another ER nurse, says in a pitying tone.
“Thanks for telling me I look like shit, Trace.” I roll my eyes at her.
“Listen, I’m just sayin’. I came to tell you that the charge nurse was talking about how you asked to be scheduled for multiple shifts. They act as if they care, but you know the cow is being nosy. Cause right after that, she asked if you were trying to go on vacation or something.”
“I’m working because I got bills just like everyone else.” I wave my hand flippantly.
Tracy might think she’s being slick, but the charge nurse isn’t the only gossip around here. If I’d told Tracy any reason, made up or not, the entire hospital would’ve known as soon as she was out of my sight.
These nurses act like there isn’t enough drama dealing with the patients because they love to keep mess between the staff going.
I get why Tracy might be curious about me suddenly being antisocial, because I was always in the mix with everyone else before.
But these last few months have been hell, and I just don’t have the energy.
“Okay, no need to get snippy. I was just telling you.”
“Thanks,” I drily answer back.
Tracy scoffs, but she doesn’t tell me anything else. The rest of the evening is actually pretty tame for the ER. There’s nothing too crazy going on until I see someone who makes my stomach drop.
My heart instantly constricts, and my mouth goes dry. Even though we get a plethora of different types of people in here, he looks out of place.
The menacing look on his face would scare even the toughest person. So, when his eyes land on me, I know that I’ve fucked up somehow.
“Shit,” I whisper.
“Damn, he looks like he’s about to kill somebody,” Tracy says, her eyes widening.
“Blue.”
“What can I help you with, sir?” I pretend not to know who he is, even though he just said my name.
Tracy sits down at the desk and watches us closely. She might as well get a bucket of popcorn; she’s so obvious. I look at her and nod for her to leave, but she just pushes the chair in and relaxes back in the seat.
When I see she’s not going to leave, I decide to take this conversation elsewhere.
Tracy already has enough information to get the rumor mill going about who this man might be.
It’s not every day a white man in a tailored suit, with menacing dark hazel eyes and built like a truck, comes in asking for me by name.
There’s no telling what stories they might come up with.
But it won’t be anywhere near the truth, that’s for sure.
“I’m taking a break. Be back in fifteen,” I say to Tracy before leaving.
Once I’m outside in the smoking area, I turn to the man. My heart is still racing, and even though I damn sure didn’t want to be alone with him, I don’t have a choice. His showing up at my job is insane.
“What are you doing here? This is my job! If I lose it, I definitely won’t be able to pay you your money back.”
“Look, you need to get your debt wiped clean and fast before Chauncey gets out of jail. He promised some shit you definitely don’t want to get involved in. I only came to warn you because I know you’re close with the Hounds,” Brick, the loan shark enforcer, says.
I frown because this is the second time I’ve been in this man’s presence, and the second time he’s mentioned the Hounds to me. I don’t know if he’s trying to tell me something, but I wish he would just come out and say it.
I hate a fucking mystery.