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“Pearl doesn’t really have any aspirations other than working at the diner, right?”
“There’s nothing wrong with that.” I cross my arms and shoot him an imperious gaze. “When I met Pearl, I realized what I thought I wanted, and what I really need, are two different things.”
The thing is… love is fine, but this situation with Pearl is not love. It’s a fully fake engagement for a marriage that neither of us wants. With a side of hot sex. Plus, she gets a baby in the bargain. Everyone wins. What more could I possibly want?
“Look who it is!”
I tense and my hands form fists even as I turn toward Bishop. I glower at him as he swaggers over to my table.
“What? Are you following me now?” I spit.
The smug look on Bishop’s face always makes me want to clean his clock. And without Pearl here to keep me from trouncing him, it might finally happen today. I crack my knuckles.
“I’m just here getting some lunch with Anitta.” He gestures behind himself, though she isn’t anywhere to be seen. “Where’s my sloppy seconds? She sniffing around here, trying to pick up her next rich White dude?”
It takes a mere moment for the cruelty of his words to sink in. I’m up in a flash, seeing red. “What the fuck did you call my girlfriend?” I hiss.
Bishop’s face splits wide in a grin. He gestures to me. “I know that you two started fucking before we were even broken up. I counted your timeline. The math ain’t mathin.”
“You can’t trust a man so concerned about another man’s girl.” I lick my lips and edge toward him. “Why aren’t you worried about your own woman?”
“Pearl is nothing more than a whore.” He spits on the ground. “She’s not worth the ground I walk on.”
Rex stands up, putting his hand on me before I can lunge at Bishop. “You do not want to fuck with River,” he growls at Bishop. “He’s fast, he fights dirty, and right now… he’s rolling three deep.”
Cole springs to his feet, cracking his knuckles. I happen to know that Cole hasn’t been in a fight since junior high. But he manages to sell it.
Maxine Parker, the Cape Market’s owner who is a hundred years old if she’s a day, hobbles out onto the patio. “Rex Bennett! Are these men bothering you?”
Rex jumps like he’s seen a ghost. “No ma’am. Sorry. This gentleman was just leaving.”
Bishop starts to snap back, but Maxine steps in front of him and starts herding him off the patio.
“G’won. G’won, get!” she says. “Messing with my customers. You aren’t even pretending to carry a tray around. I know all about you, Bishop Jones.”
“All right,” Bishop says with a sneer on his lips. He points at me. “I’ma see you later. Count on it.”
“Fucking asshole,” I retort.
“I heard that!” Maxine turns her head back, expression pinched. “Rex, make your brother sit his ass down and cool off.”
She and Bishop disappear inside the shop. Rex cracks his knuckles. Cole rubs the back of his neck and turns to me. “I get it now.”
I sit down, my eyes still trained on the door where Bishop just disappears.
“Get what?” I ask. Honestly, I’m only half listening.
Cole sits and bumps my knee with his knuckles. “Pearl. I get why you’re devoted to her.”
Blowing out a long breath, I give him a long look. “What are you talking about?”
“I just put together why you’re rubbing your relationship with Pearl in Bishop’s face. You only have to meet the guy for half a second to realize that he’s a bully.”
Rex snorts. “You got that right. He probably only had to tease Pearl one time in front of River for him to lose his shit.”
I fold my arms across my chest and lift my chin. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Mannnn.” Rex rolls his eyes over to Cole. “Remember that kid that River had beef with when he was in middle school? What was his name…? Marbles…? Marxist…?”
