Page 82 of Intolerable Bishop

Theo touched my hip, and I rose up on my toes to kiss him. “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet. We don’t have it done,” Theo said, but there was excitement in his eyes, and I knew he was up for the challenge.

“See you at seven, Princess. Be ready to try harder when I get back. Your performance this morning was lackluster at best.” I watched Nash casually stroll down the driveway, put on his shades, and get into his car, looking totally unfazed. I wanted to scream.

“I’m going to kill him one of these days. I think that’s what he’s pushing for.”

“Oh, he’s pushing for something, but you killing him, isn’t it,” Theo said, and Blake laughed.

Shaking my head, I slipped into the open car door and ran my hands over the steering wheel. This really was the perfect gift. Not having access to my money was hindering, but it didn’t make it impossible to do something special. I probably could’ve made him a card, and Myles would’ve been happy. But he added something so special to my life that I couldn’t quantify, and this…this would make him smile. Not only was it an amazing car, but I’d put a ton of time into it, and he would appreciate what it took to make this beautiful girl purr. I couldn’t wait to see the look on his face.

Blake leaned on the passenger side window while Theo stood outside the driver’s side door, looking at me.

“You okay,” Blake asked.

“Yeah. I’m really excited to do this. Do you want to help, too?”

“Sure. Put me to work.”

“To start, we need to get it into the drive-in shed around back. I’ve already cleared a workspace for it and brought all my tools. The custom paint will be here next week, which will give me time to set up a makeshift painting booth,” Theo said, and I smiled at him.

“Thank you both for helping me with this project. I really want to make Myles’s birthday special.”

“Don’t mention it. Myles is my best friend. Of course, I’m going to help.” Blake and Theo shared a brief look that I didn’t like. I couldn’t tell what was wrong, but it felt like they weren’t saying something.

“What is it? What’s wrong?”

They shook their heads in unison. It really was creepy when they had identical expressions. “Nothing,” Theo said, and before I could question the strangeness, he ordered me out of the car. Then, he and Blake got to work at moving the flatbed out of the way.

I was hanging around Nash too much. That was the problem. His paranoia was rubbing off on me.

JULY 17 - MONDAY 7:44 PM

Theo

I stood from the couch and went to the window at the sound of a car pulling up to the cabin. Blake and I needed to take care of something, and tonight was as good of a night as any. Ren was busy writing down questions and possible ways to find the answers about her family. None of us had any idea where to start. Every rock I’d turned over since getting back from Canada had led to another dead end, but I did have one burning question of my own, and I wanted my brother with me for the answer.

Nash glanced at me as he jogged up the stairs. A moment later, the door banged against the wall and closed with a thump. Ren jumped, pulling her headphones off as she glared at Nash.

“Were you brought up in a barn,” Ren asked. Nash smirked as the dance continued between them. I rolled my eyes. The two of them were seriously like an old married couple. They just refused to acknowledge it.

“I wanted to make sure you knew I was here. Wouldn’t want you accusing me of sneaking up on you again,” Nash said, grabbing an apple out of the bowl on the table as he sat down. He put his feet up on another chair as if daring Ren to say something. She looked at his boots and shook her head but didn’t say a word.

“Is it safe to leave the two of you alone,” Blake asked as he got up from the couch and turned off the television.

“Yes,” Nash said.

“No,” Ren countered.

“Perfect,” I said, smirking. “We won’t be long. Try to behave and not tear apart the cabin.”

“Don’t worry, Liam is coming to help babysit Princess.” My smile faltered.

“Liam is coming here?”

Nash took another bite of his apple. “Yeah, why? Trouble in paradise?”

I glared, suddenly agreeing with Ren that we should just shoot Nash. “No, we’re fine,” I lied. “He just didn’t mention being here tonight.” In reality, I was purposely giving Liam some space. I’d never met a more complicated personality, and being with him was walking a tightrope without a safety net.