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’m no longer asking.” Rayne clenched his jaw and squared off with Bishop, regardless that he was big enough to stomp him into the floor. But his love for Mike made Rayne feel as if he could take down a giant. “Your father is not just angry, or mad, or pissed… he’s heartbroken.”
Bishop froze, his dark brows almost touching his hairline.
Rayne accented his words with a finger jab to Bishop’s sternum. “And now I’m telling you to fix it.”
“We will. I swear,” Edison promised while Bishop stood there staring at Rayne as if he was an alien.
Rayne’s glare was hard and steady. “I have a class to go to and then a few errands to run. When I get home this evening, my man better be okay,” he ordered and left the house.
Chapter Fifty-eight
Mike
It took Mike forever to make it downstairs, and when he finally did, he had to stop and sit on one of the stools at the breakfast bar to breathe through the agony. He would’ve just stayed upstairs in bed if he wasn’t past thirsty and his breakfast long gone. Rayne said there was stuff to make a sandwich in the refrigerator, so as soon as he could muster the strength, he was going to fix himself some lunch. Then he hoped he’d be able to make it back up the stairs.
Mike was reading over the multiple text messages he’d got last night from Manny, Trent, and even Wood, checking on him, but nothing from Bishop or Edison, causing his heart to sink just a little further. Mike wondered if his li’l homie was even in town. Did they go on a honeymoon? Mike had never not known where his son was. He was debating calling but figured it’d be trifling to curse them out while they were celebrating.
Trent’s distinctive knock at his front door didn’t help the mood he was in. He didn’t want company. He didn’t want to look in Trent’s eyes and explain how he’d let Bishop down again. Mike got up, but the grunt that escaped without his permission made him sit back down.
“Come in!” Mike hollered instead of trying to make it to the front of the house, but Trent was already walking in, and it sounded like he wasn’t alone. Wood was with him. Shortly after, Bishop and Edison came around the corner holding hands, making Mike sit up taller. What the hell are they all doing here? This was not a good time to surprise attack him.
Mike didn’t get up and give them one-armed hugs like he always did, and he could tell that was the first thing they noticed. Bishop and Edison exchanged cautious glances, and Mike let them squirm as the four of them seemed to silently debate who was going to speak first. It appeared the awkward silence dragged out too long for Edison because he was spinning the hell out of his wedding ring while trying to avoid Mike’s scowl.
“Mike. We-we came to say—”
“Don’t, Eddie.” Bishop stopped his husband’s stammering. “I got this.”
Mike still didn’t open his mouth, knowing his silence was far more menacing than his voice.
Bishop stood in front of him. “Dad. I’m not here to apologize for making Eddie my husband, but I am genuinely sorry for not including you all in it or even realizing how much it meant to you. To all of you.” Bishop met Trent’s eyes.
Damn, Mike had been so consumed with his own hurt that he didn’t think how Bishop’s eloping affected Trent as well. He was his only brother; he was supposed to be standing beside him. Wood too.
“I am sorry that you all, my family, didn’t get to be a part of it. That was never our intention.” Bishop shook his head. “Eddie’s aunt and uncle were pretty upset too.”
Edison held his hands out in front of him. “I wish we would’ve thought of that first, but Mike, Bishop was so upset after we left.”
“Yeah. I still don’t know if I want to get to know Ivy yet,” Bishop confessed.
“That doesn’t have to be decided today, tomorrow, next month, or even next year. But if you do want to reach out to her,” Mike replied, “I won’t stand in your way.”
Everyone’s head snapped around at Mike. They looked confused, as if they couldn’t have possibly heard right. But they had. Mike had no right to react the way he did. If he’d been cooler and not duked it out with Ivy, Bishop might not have run off like he did. Rayne was slowly teaching Mike the painful lesson of accepting responsibility for his actions.
Bishop came closer. “I never wanted you to spend all of your savings on some elaborate wedding anyway. You know I wanted to keep it simple.”
Mike nodded. Yeah, he did know, and it would’ve been simple. Tasteful and deserving, but simple. “I know, B.”