Page 71 of Deceit

Bishop, surprisingly, lets her carry on with asking questions while he sits next to her and eats, knowing full well we’ll play along with whatever story he’s come up with. Kyson is in the same mindset across from him, with Camilla at his side while she continues to just pick at her food.

She’s the blonde at the daycare bust.

The one Bishop took with him, and he hasn’t introduced us at all, which pricks at my nerves and paranoia, leaving Kyson to do the awkward intro of “this is a childhood friend.”

Except she doesn’t strike me as one.

Not when she steals longing glances at Bishop with her eyes glimmering over in something Icanput my finger on—regret.

Regret of not making him hers in some way because I feel something similar.

I should’ve told Bishop that I was interested in long term. That he might be closed off and a fucking douchebag, but I was and still am in love with him. That we need to work it out because, without him, I’m not sure what I’m doing with my life.

“Emmy, do you live here?”

“No,” I tell Scarlett, and I can’t help the irritability that comes off my words. “I live in Connecticut.”

Scarlett smiles. “Boyfriend there?”

“No, I’m—” Bishop glances over at me for the first time since sitting down, rendering my lack of forming words.

He lifts a brow, imploring me to finish what I was going to say. Like he actually cares about what I’m going to spill.

“No.”

“I’m surprised,” Scarlett quips. “You’re gorgeous, and you’d have to be smart to work for a technology company.”

I nod. “Right, it’s tricky business.”

Bishop’s sister nudges him without prying her eyes or smile from me. “Isn’t she beautiful, Kace? Locked up in an office all day is a shame.”

“She’s stunning,” he replies without faltering, causing my whole face to slowly blanch crimson. “But it’s safe for her to be in an office. She’d give everyone whiplash with her mouth if she was allowed out in public.”

Mills chuckles at my side while Camilla forms the first rendering of a smile.

Yep, I’m not imagining shit here.

“Stop teasing,” Scarlett says like she needs to defend me. “It sounds like you all need to stay on your toes. She just makes it more fun.”

She winks at me and finally shuts up—no offense—returning back to her food while her brother looks at me for another moment before doing the same.

Kyson is unbothered or interested by the conversation, but Camilla...she illustrates that she’s not at all fond of me working closely with her “childhood friend”. And since I talk female, I receive the message loud and clear.

Kace Bishop is hers—end of story.

And maybe, he is.

“Who’s the blonde bitch to Bishop?” I ask Kyson through a mutter as Scarlett asks Marty something giving me the first opportunity I’ve had to inquire about her. “And if you don’t tell me, I’m going to start a scene.”

“Knock it off,” he grumbles through another bite of his hamburger. “She’s a nobody.”

“That’s staying with Bishop?”

“She’s not staying here. She’s staying at the trailer.”

“For?”

“Leave it be, Emmy.” I begin to rise from my seat when Kyson’s hand shoots out from underneath the table. “Seriously?”

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