My gaze lifted to Jax. She smiled and her cheeks blushed slightly. It was cute. It didn’t make my heart flutter or my stomach drop with anticipation, but I liked it. “I am excited. Are you excited to hang out with your grammy?”
Ashley giggled. “Yes! She got here this morning.”
Jax’s mother was in town to help her watch Ashley. She wasn’t sure how long she’d be staying in Boggy Creek while she did her research, so having her mom here from Boston was going to be a huge help.
“I’m sure you’re going to have a lot of fun with her,” I said to Ashley as she wiggled and jumped in her seat.
Jax smiled. “She’s more than excited. Grammy gives her lots of yummy foods. Stuff Mom doesn’t let you have, huh?”
Another giggle and nod from Ashley.
“What time should I pick you up?” I asked Jax. It was at that moment I saw Greer and Arabella on the other side of the restaurant—and both of them were staring at me like something was wrong. I smiled and nodded at them.
Greer moved toward our booth. “I don’t think we’ve met your friends,” she said as Arabella walked up and joined her.
I cleared my throat. It wasn’t like I thought Greer and Arabella wouldn’t be okay with me moving on. It felt awkward, though, introducing them to Jax and Ashley. Abby and Greer had been Arabella’s best friends. But they were my friends, as well, and I was pretty sure they’d be okay with me dating again. Hell, the fact that I’d slept with other women after Abby wasn’t exactly a secret.
Fuck, would those feelings of guilt ever freaking leave?
I stood. “Um, Greer, Arabella, this is Jax and her daughter, Ashley.”
Both Arabella and Greer smiled and said their hellos.
“My mommy and Bishop are going on another date tonight, and this time I get to hang out with my Grammy,” Ashley said.
Both Greer and Arabella turned to look at me. When I caught Greer’s eyes, she raised a single brow. Arabella had a sweet smile on her face, but I could see the disappointment in her eyes. I wasn’t sure who or what she was disappointed with. Me? Abby? The world? Who in the hell knew?
“If you’ll excuse me, Jax,” I said, “I just need to talk to Greer and Arabella for a moment.”
Her brows drew down slightly, obviously noticing the tension between all of us. “Of course, no problem.”
Greer turned and started to walk across the restaurant, heading straight out the side door that led to the small patio. Arabella and I followed her silently.
The second we were outside, Greer spoke. “You’re dating someone?” It wasn’t an accusation per se, more of a shocked question.
I rubbed at the back of my neck.
“You’ve gone out with her before, Bishop?” That question came from Arabella.
“Listen, you guys, I know it’s hard to see me with someone else, but I can’t keep living my life waiting for someone who doesn’t want me. Abby divorced me. I haven’t spoken to her in a really long time.” I looked down and kicked at nothing on the floor before meeting their eyes. “I need to move on. I want…I want…”
“You want what?” Arabella asked in a voice that was barely above a whisper.
I let out a frustrated breath. “How do you admit you want a family and kids when the only person on this planet you truly want it with doesn’t feel the same way? How do you move on without forgetting the past? I’m tired of sleeping with women, hoping it will make me forget about her. I need to… I’m not getting any younger, and I need to move on.”
Tears built in Arabella’s eyes, and she pressed a hand to her mouth. I couldn’t help but wonder if her reaction was because she felt the same way about Hunter.
“Bishop,” Greer said as she reached for my hand. “We’re not mad that you’re moving on. I’m just…sad…I guess. I mean, the meaningless crap you did was just you being a guy. But seeing you date someone…it’s just strange. I always thought you and Abby were forever.”
“You and me both, Greer.”
Arabella cleared her throat. “It just doesn’t make any sense to me. She was so happy with you. Right up until before she left, she was walking on cloud nine. Why would she leave?”
In the days and weeks right after Abby left, I had been questioned by Greer and Arabella. They’d both thought I’d cheated or done something terrible to make Abby leave. There were so many times I’d nearly broken down and told them about the baby, but I’d kept it bottled up inside. If it made them feel better to think worse of me than of Abby, then it was worth it.
“I wish I knew, Arabella. She wouldn’t let me…” I closed my eyes and drew in a deep breath.