Page 23 of Intolerable Bishop

“Let’s do it,” Vesper said as he limped over to his bike and righted it.

Hopping on mine, I waited until he was ready, and we were off. He still pushed me hard, but as the line came into view, I knew that I had won and sailed over it to cheers.

Turning around, I slowly road back to where Vesper was slumped over his handlebars, breathing hard. I spotted Ren breaking free of the crowd and jogging toward me. Dismounting, I yanked off my gloves and quickly undid the helmet just as she reached me. I pulled it off and set it down and groaned as she caught me off guard and kissed me like we really were together. Whether it was the thrill of the race or her, my heart pounded hard, and I pulled her as close as I could.

She broke the kiss and stepped back. “Congrats on the win,” she said, and I couldn’t stop staring at her lips. The adrenaline was making my brain foggy. That had to be it because I wanted to bend her over my bike. Myles strolled over, and I blinked and shook my head to rid it of the crazy thought.

Luckily, Ransom wheeled over, holding the two ownerships in the air. “Fair is fair. Here you go,” Ransom said, and I plucked them from his fingers. “Feel free to come back anytime.”

“Thanks, man.”

“Can you stay with the bike,” I asked Myles, and he nodded. “Come with me,” I whispered to Ren, and she took my hand. Vesper was still sitting on his bike as we wandered over.

It looked like his wife was with him. A sparkly ring was on her finger, and she was rubbing his shoulder, but she was also very obviously pregnant. His crash suddenly bothered me more, and I was happy that I’d stopped to make sure that he was good. We all knew the risks, but he had a kid on the way, and that was tough.

He held out his hand for me to shake, and I gripped it hard. “Thanks again for stopping, man. You’re gonna love this bike. If you want me to clean up the scrapes, let me know.”

I shook my head. “No need. Here.” I held out his slip to him and he stared at it.

“Why are you giving this back? You won it more than fairly.”

“Just take it, but one day, I may call with a favor,” I said and smirked.

Vesper smiled and got off his bike, pulling me into a manly, back-slapping hug. I could’ve done without the hug, but I went along with it.

“Thanks, man. Buying a new one was going to cut into the whole baby fund,” he said, wrapping his arm around his wife. I pulled out my phone, and he rhymed off his number. “Anytime, anything you need, you hit me up. I’ll do what I can to help.”

“Take care of yourself, Vesper,” I said, pulling Ren into my side as we walked to my bike.

“That was very sweet of you,” she said, and I made a gagging noise, which made her laugh.

“Don’t say that again, or I’ll go back and rip it out of his hand.”

Smiling, she gripped my waist tighter. “You can’t lie to me anymore. I’ve seen the kindness you try to hide.”

“I’m not kind,” I grumbled and scowled at her as I picked up my helmet.

“Whatever you say.” The corner of her mouth curved up in a mocking smile as her eyes told me that I was a liar.

I needed to get out of this country soon. Three more weeks seemed like way too long. There was something in the air that was messing with me. I glanced at Ren’s swaying ass as she walked away, and if I wasn’t careful, I was going to fall into the same trap my brother and Myles had fallen into. Ren was casting a web, whether she realized it or not, and I needed to avoid the sticky strands before it was too late.

MAY 20 – SATURDAY 12:04 PM

Ren

“It’s so good to see you,” Aunt Nadia said as we walked in the door. She wrapped me up in one of her famous hugs, and I closed my eyes as I hung onto my aunt. I pulled back and looked at her. She hadn’t changed a bit. Not that I was gone that long, but it was nice to come back to things that were the same and what I’d always known.

“Nadia, this is my friend Ivy, and this is my…Myles, Blake, and Theo,” I said, deciding it was best not to tell my sweet but very conservative aunt that I was dating more than one guy. I wasn’t embarrassed. But did I want to get into a morality debate? No. There was no way to explain to her how I’d fallen in love with two guys, and no matter what she said, I wasn’t giving them up. This vacation was to help me recharge, get some answers, and reconnect with those I missed. Arguing over something that in my heart felt right was not on my list.

Worse yet, after the race yesterday, I was having trouble seeing Theo as the strait-laced guy I usually wanted to choke. He shook my aunt’s hand and then adjusted his glasses, and it was tripping me up. All I could see when he looked at me was the guy in racing gear, sitting on a bike that made me want to fan myself. Myles had been surprisingly cool and calm, but he was extra affectionate in the car and then had me sit on his lap to watch a movie.

“All of you come on in and have a seat. I’m going to run out and get some take-out shortly, but I set the photo albums you wanted to see on the dining room table,” she said.

“You didn’t have to order us food,” I said as I kicked off my running shoes. Other than a fresh coat of paint, the house looked the same. Nadia had always loved dark accent walls, and each room had one as the focal point to add a punch to your senses. The living room displayed a rust-colored wall with barnboard accents and a stunning farm landscape that my mum had done for her. I smiled as I glanced at the oil painting that made me feel warm, like a hug.

“Nonsense, it’s not every day that I get to spoil my niece or meet her friends.” Nadia wrapped her arm around my shoulder and ushered me into the kitchen. “Okay, out with it. Who are the hotties,” she whispered, making me swallow hard. “And don’t say they are just your friends because they are not looking at you with friend eyes.” Her eyes were hard, but the corner of her mouth was turned up in a smile. So much for keeping it secret.

Clearing my throat and rolling out my shoulders, I prepared for the worst response. “I’m dating Myles and Blake, but Theo came along for the summer adventure. He’d never been to Canada.” I wasn’t going to freak her out with all the drama surrounding me and whatever it was that involved my father. She would worry, and I didn’t want to do that to her.