And that sounded a little too defensive.
But I’m not used to having the inquisition directed at me. I’m never the source of the family gossip.
I much prefer being on the giving end than the receiving one.
Astrid settles back and shakes her head. “I’m not so sure about that.”
I wave them off. “It doesn’t matter. There’s nothing going on with me and Gage.”
Jack leans closer, seemingly entranced by the info, her complaints about morning sickness and lack of caffeine long forgotten. “His name is Gage?”
“Yep.”
Kennedy grins, her eyes practically glowing with curiosity. “What does he look like?”
Fucking hell.
Fate must be fucking with me today, because no sooner does she ask the question than the man himself walks through the front door of The Grind.
GAGE
The inside of The Grind is exactly what I would’ve expected it to look like from what I could see from the street. Bright, airy, artfully decorated with local New Orleans decor that gives it a relaxed yet still upscale feel that makes it inviting.
A dark-haired woman bustles around behind the counter making drinks for a few people waiting by the register, but I only glance at her briefly before I zero in on my reason for coming today—the woman sitting at the back corner table with her eyes locked on me looking like she just saw a ghost.
Okay, maybe not so inviting…
At least, not to me.
I had hoped giving Bishop a few days to cool off after the way she left me in the park might have earned me a warmer welcome, but apparently she’s still pissed and thinks I was trying to somehow judge her life when all I wanted was for her to take a step back and do something for herself.
Burnout is very real, and Bishop is approaching it fast.
It didn’t take long for me to see that, and I can only imagine her family has noticed it and said something, too. Which is likely why she reacted that way the other night.
When something has become your entire life and the people you care about tell you that you have to take a step back, it’s hard. When someone you barely know tells you the same thing, it’s infuriating.
I know that from personal experience…
All the women around the table with Bishop turn to look at me as I move farther into the café, several sets of eyes widening. The blonde sitting next to her leans over and whispers something that has Bishop blinking and shaking her head slightly before she pushes up out of her seat.
I don’t even make it to the counter before she intercepts me.
She deftly blocks me from advancing any farther, setting her booted feet wide to solidify her stance and make herself more difficult to move—as if I’d even try. “What the hell are you doing here?”
Spreading open my hands, I glance around at the customers and raise a brow. “Getting a cup of coffee?”
Bishop scowls, crossing her arms over her chest and puffing it out in a probably unconscious move to make herself look bigger as I tower over her by at least a foot.
She may not have size, but what she lacks there, she makes up for in tenacity and strength. This woman could take down a man bigger than me and can absolutely handle herself in any situation without any help. I don’t have a single doubt about that after seeing her in action, and right now, it looks like she wants to go to full-on battle with me in her cousin’s coffee shop.
“You can get coffee anywhere, Gage.”
I grin as I step even closer, purposely invading her personal space to try to rattle her. “I can, but the thing is, I’ve been looking for this woman who seems to be avoiding me.”
Her shoulders stiffen, and her eyes dart away toward the counter. “I’m not avoiding you.”
“Oh, really? Then look at me.”
