Bishop

Chapter 24

Drew

“Get your ass up.”

“Fuck you.”Bishop’s tone is one of defeat.

“Look, I’m gonna pretend like you didn’t just say that to me and forgive you because you’re in a bad place right now, but you ever say those words to me again and we’ll have issues.I know what you’re going through.”

“You don’t know shit about what I’m going through,” he snarls as I stand in front of him.

“Liam isn’t my biological father.”

“What?”He questions, his eyebrows drawing together.“You share the same last name.”

“We do, but he didn’t come into my life until I was a teenager.As far as I was concerned, I was the man of the house.When Liam showed up, I could finally be the kid I wanted to be.But it took me a while to get there.”

“Why?”He asks, before sitting up and leaning against the headboard.

I have a seat on the couch across from where he is.“Because I’d been the man of the house for so long and I’d never been able to trust anyone other than my mom.I was afraid.”I shrug.“Afraid that I was going to give him the privilege of allowing him to be the first one I gave that part of myself to and he’d fuck me over.It’s not easy to make yourself vulnerable and Liam was the first person besides her who didn’t disappoint me.It wasn’t easy and I think Liam was the person who was meant to pull it out of me.”

I’ve got his attention now.

“How did you learn how to trust him?”He asks, biting his bottom lip.

“Eventually.He just kept passing every test I’d give him.Each time I’d ask him to do something, he wouldn’t disappoint me.Whether it was picking me up from school or being there when I was having a drug problem in high school.Even when Charity came back into my life.Liam has been there since the day he came into our lives and he’s never left.”

“Like Harley has for me?”He rubs his hand through his hair.

“Exactly.Has she ever let you down?”I ask, knowing she’s done everything she can to be the person he needs her to be.

“No.”He shakes his head.“She hasn’t.”

“So, why aren’t you trusting her with your feelings?”

“I don’t want to worry her.She’s got a lot going on with being pregnant and, ya know, carrying our child.”

Reaching over, I put my hand on his shoulder.“Here’s the thing, Bishop.Life doesn’t stop just because hard things are happening.It’s funny, it continues even when the rest of your world is falling apart.That’s what you have to learn to deal with as a couple and as parents.You have to learn to cope, otherwise the rest of your life is going to be situations you aren’t prepared to deal with.You’re never going to make it.That’s the best lesson Liam ever taught me.”

“What can I do, though?”

“First, you apologize to my daughter.I’m pretty pissed at you for making her upset.She’s the mother of your child and the person you said you love.Don’t shut her out and treat her the way you have been.Second, we fight back.Whatever that means for you, as a family we fight back.Do some reconnaissance, figure out what the fuck will make you feel better, and allow us to help you.”

He seems to be contemplating everything I’ve told him.

“I know I hit you with a lot.If you need to take time then you’ve got it, but don’t take too much.”

“No, I don’t need time.”He wipes at his chin.“I need to find Harley.The first thing I need to do is apologize.Without her by my side, I’m nothing.”

I give him a small smile.“All us guys have learned that regarding our women.”

“Think she’ll make me work for it?”

“I have no idea.Since she got pregnant, she’s been a little unpredictable.”

He laughs.“Truest words ever spoken.”

Harley