Page 120 of Jake Forever
Chapter 42
From behind Pete's desk, I looked from Bishop to Bianca. Had they arrived together? Or was it some sort of weird coincidence?
When Bishop spotted me, he strode over to the desk and said, "Is Jake around?"
I shook my head. "I wish."
A couple of paces behind him, Bianca called out, "What? He's not? After I made a special trip?" She stomped over to me and said, "Well, this is just great."
No. Actually, it wasn't. I turned to Bishop and said, "You're still in town? I thought you left."
"I did," he said. "And now, I'm back."
I did the math. They'd been heading back to our hometown. That was a two-hour drive. They'd left how long ago? Not even four hours. Unless I was mistaken, the math didn't add up. What had he done? Tossed my sister out the window and done a quick U-turn?
As if reading the expression on my face, he said, "Don't worry. I walked her to the door and everything."
"You must be a fast walker," I said.
Bianca claimed the spot next to him and said, "Doesn't anyone care why I'm here?"
Why lie? "I don't," I said, turning to Bishop. "Do you?"
Bianca followed my gaze, and then, as if noticing Bishop for the first time, she did a double-take. A slow smile spread across her face, and she ran a nervous hand through her long, dark hair.
In a surprisingly sultry voice, she said, "Are you Jake's brother?" Her gaze drifted down his body and back up again. "Oh, my God, you could be twins."
Watching this, I made a sound of annoyance. "Yeah. But they're not."
Ignoring me, she sidled closer to him and practically purred, "So, what areyoudoing here?"
I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. "Forget it," I told her. "He's engaged."
Bianca drew back. "I don't know what you're implying, but I don’t appreciate it."
Well,Ididn't appreciate her drooling over my sister's fiancé. Had she no shame?
Apparently not. Undaunted, she once again leaned closer to him and said, "So, engaged, huh?"
I spoke up. "Yeah. To my sister."
Bianca's smile disappeared. She turned to me and said, "You can't be serious."
"Yes." I smiled. "I can."
I looked to Bishop. Showing zero interest in Bianca, he looked back to me and said, "Where is he?"
"Jake?" I bit my lip. "I wish I knew. You're the second brother to come looking for him."
Bishop cursed under his breath. "Joel?"
I nodded.
Next to him, Bianca said again, louder this time, "Doesn't anyone care why I'm here?"
If I didn't care the first time, why would I care now? I looked to Bishop, who told her, "That depends. You a friend of Luna's?"
Bianca pursed her lips. "Not particularly."
