Page 33 of Bishop

“Bite your tongue!” Amelia spat back. “I’m already planning their wedding on Pinterest in two years' time and what their children are going to look like. I’m assuming twin girls. That ought to serve my brother right for his disgusting, philandering ways!”

Angel busted out laughing. “Let his sins haunt him through his female descendants, right?”

I blushed at their frank talk. “Please don’t say anything to Matty. I don’t want him to think I’m his crazy stalker planning our futures together without ever having gone on a single date.”

Both women promised to be good as we joined the circle around the fire. Angel introduced me to those Brothers I hadn’t met yet, and a scantily clad Club girl came around and gave us beers. I noticed Angel discreetly hand hers over to Reaper, on account of her pregnancy.

“These cookies are amazing,” Hammer complimented as he wolfed down his fifth. “I love the chocolate chunks on top! They’re like little bites of heaven.”

The biker was eating the double-stuffed peanut butter buddies with Hershey Kiss centers. Always a crowd pleaser. “I’m glad you’re enjoying them. They’re my favorite, too.”

Ox, the Club Enforcer, raised his hand because his mouth was full. After swallowing the entire cookie he’d shoved in his mouth, he said, “Me three. I fucking love everything peanut butter flavored!”

There were murmurs of agreement around the fire as I glanced over at the table where the desserts were starting to run low. I made a few extra batches last night just in case this happened and was grateful now for my over-planning ways.

“I’m going to go replenish the trays of cookies. I’ll be right back,” I told the crowd, before tossing my now-empty beer into the bin.

“I need a refill on my water so I’ll go with you,” Angel said, tagging along and chatting about how glad she was I was able to make it here tonight.

We went to the kitchen and I began loading a tote full of cookies to replenish the trays. Angel needed to make a quick pit stop to the bathroom and told me that she’d meet me back here in five minutes. I collected the refill bags of cookies to disperse at the varied tables and noticed the trash bin was overflowing.

The OCD freak in me decided to change the trash while I waited for Angel to return and place the garbage outside so that it wouldn’t start to stink up the place.

When I stepped outside and turned the corner where the dumpster was located, I got an eyeful of the unexpected. Matty, the man whose sister had just been teasing me about marrying only minutes ago, was seemingly getting a handjob from one of the blonde twins against the stone wall near the dumpster.

In what I could only assume were the throes of passion, he called out the woman’s name, which I now unfortunately learned was “Cici”!

In shock over what I’d stumbled into, I audibly gasped. Both parties turned toward me then and we all just stared at one another for several uncomfortable heartbeats.

I’d been such a fool. Again. I’d let my mind play tricks on me. To allow me to fantasize about a fairytale ending between me and the handsome biker. But the truth was fairytales didn’t exist. People don’t change. Bad boys just grew up to become bad men in attractive packaging. You’d think I’d know better by now. I guess I was just a slow learner and deserved this harsh lesson.

After several silent, tense seconds ticked by, the attractive woman hissed, “Do you mind? We’re kind of busy here!”

Not knowing how the fuck I should respond to the turmoil going on in and around me, I stammered, “Sorry. Um, can you just throw this away when you're done,” before I tossed the heavy black bag at them.

I ran in the opposite direction before it even had a chance to land. Mortified for acting like such a child, I sprinted into the kitchen where Angel was waiting for me. She took one look at my flushed face and shocked expression and immediately knew something was wrong.

“Is everything okay?” she posed, her water bottle clutched tightly in her hands. “You look like I did after Reaper had taken me to my first horror movie.”

Grabbing up my satchel of cookies, I forced a smile onto my numb lips. “Everything’s fine. I’ve just never seen such a huge pile of garbage in all my life. I’m over it now. Let’s go back to the party and give the men their desserts.”

Angel didn’t pry. She simply frowned in confusion as I led her out of the kitchen. Maybe I was an asshole, but I think I had a right to be. Turning, I locked the outside door before we left.

* * *

Bishop

The trash bag slammed onto the ground with a loud smashing sound. The plastic ripped open at the corner and spilled out and around our feet.

“What the fuck!” Cici shouted as the smelly, dark liquid seeped onto her expensive pumps.

Moving her away from me, I swiftly did up my pants. I couldn’t believe my goddamned luck! Of all the people to step out of that doorway and find me with Cici, it had to be Evie. Goddamned Wild! Fuck my life!

“Where are you going?” Cici screamed at my back. “We aren’t done here, Bishop!”

I ignored her and headed straight for the back door of the kitchen. Reaching for the handle, I gave it a hard twist.

“Fuck!” I shouted, thwarted by a slip of a girl who’d so easily predicted my next move. Evie had locked me out!

---