Page 83 of Intolerable Bishop

He’d finally said he loved me and had been groveling with sorry text messages and a dozen phone calls, but it felt surface level deep of an apology. I’d put up with too much for too long, and he made me feel like a fool for it. Now that I wanted something that didn’t align with his plan, he was suddenly spouting his love. It wasn’t that I didn’t believe him, but I needed him to make a real statement. What? I didn’t know. That was part of the problem.

“Yeah, funny thing that. It kinda seemed like he wasn’t going to come until I said you weren’t going to be here.” Ren and Blake looked between me and Nash, but I gave him a curt smile. I doubted that was true, and I wasn’t going to let Nash get to me.

“Odd. You’ll have to inquire with Liam why he gave you that impression. As far as I’m aware, we’re perfectly fine.” I grabbed my jacket even though it was a warm night while Blake kissed Ren goodbye.

As soon as Blake was ready, I walked out of the cabin and took a deep breath. Blake waited until we got into the car, but as soon as he looked over at me, I knew what he wanted to know.

“We’ll be fine. There is unresolved tension around the new arrangement with Ren, but we are working through it,” I said before Blake opened his mouth.

“Are you sure the two of you are going to be okay? What will you do if he gives you an ultimatum?”

I’d thought about that. I didn’t want to admit it, but I worried Liam might pull that trick like he was laying an ace on the table. I loved him, but I couldn’t let him think he could control me. That was dangerous with a personality like his. Ren was new to me, but I was falling for her despite her relationship with Myles and Blake. It was complicated all around. I honestly didn’t know what I would say or do if pushed. Logic was comfortable for me, and at the moment, Liam was being anything but logical.

“I’ll figure it out if that happens.” Backing up, I turned the car around and met the man of the hour at the end of the driveway.

My heart galloped at the sight of him. Other than family vacations, I’d never gone more than a day without seeing Liam. We stared at one another as we put our windows down.

“You going to be here when I get back,” I asked, keeping my voice even.

“Yeah, I was planning on staying the night.”

My eyebrows shot up. “Okay, we won’t be long. I need to talk to my mom, and then we’ll be back.” Liam nodded, and we both put our windows up.

“Brrr.” I looked over at Blake, who was rubbing his arms. “That was a chilly hello.”

“Like I said, we’re working through stuff. We’ll be fine.” But I really had no idea.

JULY 17 – MONDAY 8:35 PM

Theo

Turning into our parent’s driveway, I drove around the curve and backed into an open spot before cutting the engine. I looked at Blake. “You ready for this?”

“Yeah, I just hate not telling Ren things. It feels wrong. There’s already been so many secrets, you know?”

I nodded. “I do, but this is something we should find out first. It could be nothing, and if it is, then we’ll have broken the trust Ren has with our mom for nothing.”

“True. Alright, let’s get this over with.”

We got out of the car and walked to the door, not bothering to hit the signaler. We were here so little between living in the dorms and now staying at the cabin, but it was still our home. Mom would’ve looked at us like we’d lost our minds if we had.

“Are you sure Dad is at work,” Blake asked as we stepped inside and heard a man speaking.

“That’s not Dad,” I growled under my breath. I hadn’t noticed his car in the driveway, but I would know Lawrence’s voice anywhere. He could play the smooth-talking villain in any movie. Walking to the home office that my mother and father shared, we stepped through the doorway. Mom glanced over from where she was seated at the desk. The devil himself, Lawrence, looked over his shoulder at us. My eyebrow arched in silent question, and I almost wished that I hadn’t been so quick to barge in.

“Sorry, we didn’t think anyone was here,” I said. “Would you like us to wait outside the door?”

Lawrence smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. I wasn’t sure he was capable of true happiness. “That won’t be necessary.” He stood from the desk. “When Ethan gets in, be sure to let him know that I stopped by.” Lawrence buttoned his suit jacket as my mother nodded, her face void of all emotion. It didn’t matter though. I knew my mom, and she was tense, her shoulders rigid as she clasped her hands on the desk. I hated the idea of Lawrence in my house, let alone by himself with my mother. I didn’t trust the man. Worse, I knew that if Lawrence tried something, my mother would hide it from all of us. She’d say it was to protect my dad from going into a rage and trying to kill Lawrence. We all wanted him to disappear, but shooting him between the eyes held consequences. We didn’t have all the pieces in place for that, at least not yet.

“Theo, Blake,” Lawrence said.

“Mr. Collier,” we said together. I was just as happy when he didn’t try to stop and chat with us, and I watched him until the front door opened and closed before turning to face my mom.

She looked visibly shaken. She ran her hand through her hair and then rubbed her eyes. Mom looked like she was wearing the weight of the world. I whispered to Blake, “Close the door.”

I walked around the desk and leaned down to kiss her cheek. Mom, are you okay? I signed.

Yes, I’m fine. This is a wonderful surprise. Mom signed back as Blake kissed her other cheek.