With a slight nod, he said, “Girls’ night, sounds like.”
Before I could say anything, he slipped into the booth. Tess showed up like magic. Bishop turned the coffee cup over and looked up at her and winked. “Thanks, Tess.”
“Sure thing, sweetie,” she said, pouring him a cup of coffee. “Usual?”
Bishop replied, “That would be great.” He looked at me and motioned around the booth. “Do you mind if I join you for breakfast?”
My stomach dipped, and I barely managed a reply. “Of course not.” After Tess walked away, I started to ask how things were at the farm, but Bishop spoke first.
“I wanted to apologize.”
I felt my eyes go wide. “For what?”
He cupped his coffee cup with both hands as he turned it slowly in the saucer and stared down at the black liquid. “For treating you how I did when you came to the house.” His eyes swung up and met mine. “I’m still so angry with you, Abby.”
I nodded quickly. “I know you are, and you have every right to be.”
He exhaled and looked around the restaurant. I followed his gaze. No one was paying any attention to us. When Bishop looked back at me, I held my breath.
I loved him more than anyone else. How I could have ever let him go was beyond me. But with him sitting in the booth, talking to me without yelling, I felt a sliver of hope that we might at least be able to be friends again.
When he remained silent, I took the lead.
“I need you to know something, Bishop.”
“What’s that, Abs?”
His nickname made my chest tighten. “I never stopped loving you, and there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t regret leaving.”
Bishop stared at me for a few moments before he let his gaze fall to my mouth, just for a second. Then he focused his eyes back on mine. With a swift nod, he said, “We should talk if you’re, um…going to be living here.”
I thought my heart couldn’t break any more, but his words had just proven me wrong. I nodded and whispered, “Okay.”
Bishop looked around. “This probably isn’t the place to do it.”
I looked down at my coffee, then gave him a weary smile. “No, probably not.”
Tess walked over and set my plate of food in front of me. “Yours will be done in just a couple minutes, Bishop.”
“No worries, Tess,” Bishop said as he looked down at the plate in front of me. “Two pancakes, scrambled eggs, and three pieces of bacon. Do you still dip your pancakes in syrup?”
About that time, Tess placed a bowl and the syrup in front of me, then put Bishop’s breakfast down in front of him.
I laughed. “Yes, I still do.”
He smiled, and it was the first time it touched his eyes. “I always liked that little quirk about you.”
Shrugging, I replied, “I don’t like soggy pancakes.” He shook his head, picked up the pepper, and started to shake it over his two over-easy eggs with a side of fried breakfast potatoes and bacon. The same breakfast he’d been ordering here for as long as I’d known him.
“Did you enjoy your hike with Kyle the other day?” he asked.
I paused with my fork at my mouth. “Um, yeah, it was nice to spend time with Arabella, and I think it was good for her.”
All he did was nod.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve gone hiking; I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed it. Or how sore I’d be the next day.” I paused for a moment. I couldn’t help but wonder how much of the day Kyle had shared with Bishop and Hunter. “Did Kyle, um, mention anything about it?”
Bishop raised a brow. “No. He just said you and Arabella seemed to need the hike.”
I let out a soft laugh. “Yes, we certainly did. I’ve missed the view from the top of those mountains.”
He stared at me for a beat too long, then went back to eating.
“How are things going at the farm?” I asked. “Are you ready for opening day?”
“It’s busy.”
So we were back to short, clipped answers. Forcing a smile, I replied, “I’m sure it is.”
We ate in silence, neither one of us knowing what to make of this shared breakfast. It was clear Bishop wasn’t interested in small talk, and I wondered why he’d sat down and joined me for breakfast. What would Jax think? Would she be bothered that Bishop was having breakfast with his ex-wife? I tried to push her from my mind.
Bishop finally cleared his throat. “I guess I better get going.”
I reached across the table and placed my hand on his, and he instantly froze. “Bishop, when can we talk?”
He pulled his hand back and stared at it before meeting my questioning gaze. “The only day I have free is Thanksgiving.”