Page 26 of Euphoria
Chapter 10
Phoenix
“What isthis I’m hearing that you and Bowie want to get married to the same girl… again?” Andres, the man who raised me, looks me in the eye.
The signature Bishops gray eyes stare at me. When I was younger, his glare used to scare me, but as I get older, I realize it’s his way of just being concerned. Don’t get me wrong, Andres Bishops is not someone to look in the eye and fuck with. As honest and good of a person as he is, he’d turn around to slit your throat in less time than it would take you to tell him you’re sorry.
“We gave her a week. She’s our wife.” I shrug my shoulders.
Andres chuckles and shakes his head. “I know, cabrón. Now, listen to me, we’re going to have to play this right. We’ve got some heat from stupid ass Esposito, so I need you sharp. Make sure that Bowie is ready and aware because he’s the celebrity. I chuckle. “You a fan?” I tease.
Andres rolls his eyes. “The kid’s got a voice. I can’t deny that shit but seriously, you bring a lot of shit talking but his fan base is fucking insane.”
I nod. “I know. I’ve been checking things double time and don’t tell Ry, but I make sure nobody is trailing him either. He’s with Esposito’s daughter and no one touches my brother.”
Andres smiles. “I know how protective you are of him. If he knew half of the shit you did for him, he’d kick your ass because his big ass thinks he can do it all alone.”
I chuckle, then my demeanor grows somber. “What about you, Papà? How are you holding up? Have you been talking to someone about this whole thing with what happened to Natasha? You can talk to me, you know?”
Andres sits back on my couch; he’s not used to being out of his estate. This is a whole new ballgame for him. He stares out at the floor to ceiling windows that showcase the sun that’s setting.
“I don’t know man; I mean I rarely talk to anyone but you about this shit. I just, she was my wife you know, but she hurt my Ainslee. She left marks on her body in places I couldn’t see. She doesn’t deserve my love, kid.” He looks at me with anger so palpable in his eyes I know Natasha is turning in her grave. I would know, I found her first and buried her.
“I get it. I really do. If Bambi ever did that I’—.”
“She won’t,” He answers, then smirks. “You’re thinking of having children with her? You never wanted kids.”
I shrug. “I don’t know, Papà. I just, I want her to understand that I love her. This is the only way for me. I can’t not love her plus us three never sat down to discuss it. Back then, we were kids, now, it’s not like any of us have kids to consider or something.”
Andres nods. “Yeah, that’s smart. It’s something for you three to sit down and talk about. Maybe one of you doesn't want children and how is that going to impact the rest of you that are involved in this. Gotta make the make or break shit, ya know? Plus, I know you can’t not love her. This is who you are and who you’ve always been. It’s not you.” He sits up and clears his throat. “I’ve got to go take care of something on the States side and then when I come back, we’re doing a wedding even if your bride doesn’t want to.”
I glare at him even though I’m grinning. “She’ll want to. I don’t care if I have to drag her little ass to the altar.”
“What about Bowie? Does he want a wedding?” Andres says.
As if someone summoned him, Bowie comes out of the spare bedroom. He was napping off a headache he got. “No, I don’t fancy a wedding but I will walk her down the aisle. She may not think she does but she deserves the ceremony on top of the world,” he answers as he goes over and says hi to Andres.
Bowie has got to be the only person on Founder’s Island that isn’t afraid of Andres. I sometimes wonder if Bowie could kill me in my sleep but from when I could last remember as kids, Bowie has never once been scared to approach or engage Andres in a conversation.
Andres shakes his head. “You’ve got to be the only people I know to ever use the legalization of Poly marriage to its full extent. Most people don't even bother.”
Bowie sits back on the couch and nods, “Some people are fools on this Island, and I refuse to be one of them.”
Andres nods. “True, so are you both sure that Bambi wants to do this? Once again, I have to ask.”
“We’re doing this,” I interject. “and as for what you have to take care of, let me. It’s my present to you.”
Andres snorts. “The fuck? I’m not getting married, dumb-ass.”
I laugh. “Oh well. Still, you’re not going stateside without me. I’ll tell Ry to stick with Ains.”
Andres rolls his eyes. “Fine, but since you’re coming heard you’re moving to the other homes in the community with Ainslee.”
“Yep. My wife and this bastard are moving in with me,” Bowie says.
I roll my eyes. “Don’t say it like that. Like I didn’t agree or some shit. You don’t drag me around, bitch.”
Bowie throws his head back, laughing. I’ve truly missed this fucker. “Dude.”
