Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 115525 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 578(@200wpm)___ 462(@250wpm)___ 385(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115525 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 578(@200wpm)___ 462(@250wpm)___ 385(@300wpm)
“I swear to god, Ivy.” Mike lowered his voice. He didn’t miss the swell of awe that crept over her face as she stared at where Bishop had disappeared. “If you hurt my boy… all fuckin’ bets are off.”
“I know I’ve hurt him enough… both of you.” It was the first time Mike saw an ounce of guilt or remorse from her. “And I know I don’t have any rights to him. I just…” Her eyes watered, “I just wanna see him one time.”
“And then you leave,” Mike finished.
“I promise.” She nodded. “Can I go in and—”
“Mike! Why don’t you have the grill heating up yet? What are you doing?” Bishop stood on the porch with his hands up in the air like “what the hell.” His son stood there looking like a better replica of himself in boots, dark blue jeans, and a faded, retro Beavis and Butthead T-shirt. They were dressed similarly, except Mike’s T-shirt was all black with two words written block-style across his chest that read, Property of Overbrook Insane Asylum. Return if found.
“Mike.” Bishop frowned, glaring at him before his gaze moved to Ivy.
Mike didn’t say anything; he was still too stunned that Bishop and his mother were only feet away from each other. He never thought this day would come.
“Oh my gosh, he looks just like you,” she whispered in wonderment, moving closer toward the porch. “He’s so big… and strong.” She turned and beamed at Mike as if she was proud. “And handsome.
“Dad.” Bishop was staring at Ivy as if he almost had all the pieces of the puzzle put together.
“Hello, Bishop.” Ivy held her hand out, and Mike held his breath.
Rayne was at his side now, and Manny at his back like they were afraid he was about to fall over. Mike was actually pretty damn close when his son’s hand grasped hers. He didn’t do worried, but the sight before him felt like an invisible fist punching him in the gut.
“I’m Ivy St. James.” She reached up and touched Bishop’s cheek, all motherly and compassionate, with tears streaming down her face. “I’m your… I’m your mother.”
Chapter Fifty-one
Mike
It broke Mike’s heart when Bishop yanked his hand away from her, frowning as if he thought someone was playing a cruel joke on him. He scowled in Mike’s direction, and for the first time, he was helpless to defend his son. “Mike, what’s going on?”
Edison came outside with a huge grin and clapped his hands. “I need to get my burgers on the grill—” His sentence cut off quickly when he saw the myriad of emotions on his fiancé’s face. “Bishop, what’s the matter?”
Ivy spun around and glared at Mike. “Why does he call you by your first name?”
“None of your damn business.” Mike took an angry step forward, but Manny’s hand landed on his shoulder and Rayne’s in the center of his chest.
Bishop stared at Ivy for a long time, not saying anything, and Mike could only imagine what his boy was thinking. No doubt Bishop was trying to get a read on her, and Mike hoped he’d be able to see through her bullshit. But his son was a grown, accomplished man, and he could make his own decisions about who he allowed in his life.
“I call him Mike and Dad,” Bishop answered her after a tense silence. His face was unreadable, his tone low and cautious. “Because he’s my best friend first, and he’s my father.”
Ivy gave Bishop a soft smile, one Mike didn’t know she was capable of making, and inched a little closer. With every move Ivy made, no matter how minute, Mike’s heart jackhammered behind his rib cage. His son was over thirty, and Mike was actually terrified someone was trying to take him away from him. It’d been his greatest fear from the time he was fifteen until now. Bishop’s eyes were on him, assessing and judging as unease stirred in Mike’s belly. He and his son had always had their own language, and he relayed back that it was never his intention for Bishop to be ambushed.
“Bishop, who is this?” Edison asked, clutching Bishop’s upper bicep.
Trent and Wood came from out the back gate. Trent, being his usual unaware self, hollered at them to bring the party in the back where the beer was. He and Wood laughed, but it died away fast when they noticed no one else joined in.
“This woman says she’s my mother.”
Another long, quiet pause and stares around the yard before all gazes returned to Bishop.
“Oh.” Edison looked as if he didn’t know what on earth to say.
“Why are you here?” Bishop asked with little feeling in his voice as if he didn’t care but was curious nonetheless.
Ivy blinked and pointed at the Jaguar, stuttering when she attempted to answer. “I, um. I live in Atlanta, and I’m— I changed after I left here, after I left my violent husband.”