He’s quiet for so long, I’m convinced he’s not going to answer me, and my heart sinks.
Finally, he whispers, “Shit,” and sits down again.
“You’re here because your mother wanted you to be here. The threat was eliminated, and it was time for you to come home. Gideon is in Montana because that’s where he lives, Lena.”
I shake my head. “You know what I’m asking you. He wouldnotjust abandon me. If my mom insisted I come back here, he would have come with me. Why isn’t he here, Bishop?”
“Because he was given very specific orders tonotbe here,” he replies. “Not because he didn’t want you, Lena. He was a fucking mess in that hospital. I’ve never seen him like that.”
Oh, thank God.
He didn’t abandon me.
“We don’t question the commander in chief’s orders. We follow those orders to a T. It’s what we do. He left that night because he’d been given the order to do so, but that isn’t what he wanted.”
Tears fill my eyes, and I cover my mouth with my hands, holding the sobs in.
“What do I do?” The question comes out as a hoarse whisper. “I want to be in Montana. I need to be with him.”
“I think you need to take a little time,” he replies slowly. “You’re still healing, and if you’re going to fight your mother for what you want, you need to be at the top of your game for that.”
He’s not wrong.
“Keep getting well. Work on your art. If you want, I’ll set you up with a therapist to help you navigate all this, and when the time is right, Gideon will be there. Trust me, he’s not going anywhere.”
“I want to call him. I need to tell him what the plan is and hear his voice. I was with him every single day for weeks, and nownothing? This isn’t right, Bishop.”
He nods slowly. “Gid’s not taking calls right now.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “What do you mean?”
“He’s shut off his phone. He’s back to work, and he’s isolating. He’s healing too, Lena.”
My heart aches. Fuck, poor Gideon.
“If this were any other situation, I’d call him and get him on a plane. Or I’d send you out there. I’m on your side in this, but if you tell your mother that, I’ll deny it.”
My lips twitch.
“But it’s not normal circumstances,” I murmur, glancing out my windows.
“No. It isn’t.”
“I’ll follow your advice. I’ll work on myself. I think I have an art exhibit happening, but no one will know it’s mine. I’m working under a pseudonym. That’s the deadline, Bishop. Because after that day, I’m moving to Montana, whether my mother likes it or not.”
His lips twitch. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen Bishop smile before.
“That’s a good plan. I’d like to know more about that exhibit.”
“All the contacts were removed from my phone. Otherwise, I’d call you.”
That news has him pausing, a crease forming between his eyebrows.
“May I see?”
I pass it to him, and he taps the screen. He sets my phone aside and taps his own phone, then puts it up to his ear.
“Reinstate Blackbird’s contacts immediately.”
