Runaway Bride

“Well, shit…”

“I need to call them, tell them to call this search off.” I shake my head, attempting to understand what the hell they’re thinking.

Bishop frowns, but picks up his cell from the nightstand and unlocks the screen for me. “Here, but don’t let them talk down to you. Tell them you won’t have them controlling you anymore. You are your own person. Don’t let them tell you anything else. You decide what to do with your life…unless you decide to leave me, then you leave me no choice other than to tie you to the bed.” He grins.

“I won’t leave you. Nothing they can or will say to me will change that. I’ve known them my whole life and they’ve treated me like crap. You’ve known for a few hours and have treated me like royalty in comparison.” I take the phone from his hand and dial my mom’s number with a heavy heart. I don’t feel like I’m ready to face my parents yet.

I know exactly what they are going to say. How they’re going to act.

“Do you want me to give you some privacy?”

“No. Please stay.” I might need someone to hold my hand for this. I take a deep breath and hit the green call button. The dial tone booms in my ear, and after the third ring, my mom answers.

“Who is this?” Disdain coats her words.

Who answers a phone like that?

“Mom, it’s me…” I reply in a rush, my eyes on Bishop’s green ones the whole time.

“Ivy! What in the world were you thinking? You’ve ruined everything. You know how important this was to our family,” my mom yells into the phone so loud, I have to hold it a few inches away from my ear. “Tell me where you are right this second so we can come pick you up. You better get ready to beg Joseph to give you another chance. He has been more than gracious, and you just run out on him like a spoiled little brat.”

My hands start to shake, and tears fall from my eyes. I did nothing wrong, and she’s so angry, so hateful. Before I can get a single syllable out, Bishop takes the phone from my hand.

“How dare you talk to her like that. And what kind of mother are you anyway, forcing your daughter to marry some guy just for money—a guy who fucked some slut in a church on their supposed wedding day. She deserves better than you and your crappy wants and needs.”

My mother gasps, and I hold my breath for the retaliation that’s about to come out of her mouth.

“I don’t know who you think you are, but if you took our daughter, we will be calling the police on you.”

Bishop merely laughs. “Your daughter is of legal age and very capable of making her own choices. Maybe if you had asked her what she wanted, you wouldn’t be in this situation right now.”

“You do not know me or my daughter. Put my daughter back on the phone right—”

“I’ll put your daughter back on the phone when you tell me you’ll stop treating her like shit,” Bishop interrupts. His dedication to protect me makes my heart so full, and confirms he’s the one for me. “Talk to her with the respect she deserves, or I hang up the phone.”

“Fine,” my mom growls, clearly unhappy someone would demand respect from her when she thinks she is better than everybody else.

Bishop hands the phone back to me. “Only if you want to talk to her, Bambi,” he whispers.

I nod, trying to force a smile, but I can’t get my lips to even twitch up the slightest. I take the phone from him and hold it to my ear again.

“Mom…” an uneasiness fills my belly.

“Ivy, just come talk to us. Meet us for dinner. We can sort things out and make everything right again.” I can hear her voice strain and I know the amount of effort it’s taking her to keep her voice calm and control her emotions.

“And by right, you mean force me to marry Joseph?” Simply saying his name makes my want to vomit.

“Ivy, just come home and we’ll talk about this. Everything can go back to normal.”

“Mom, I’m with Bishop. I’m not going to marry Joseph or anybody else. I’m not coming back. I’m staying here—for good.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. You can’t just move out. What about all your things—your clothes, your shoes?” I could care less about all the superficial things.

“Who is this Bishop guy anyway? Did he kidnap you? Brainwash you? He is incredibly rude. How could you possibly let him talk to your mother the way he did?” My mother is going off on a tirade. The only way I’m going to get her or my father to leave me alone will be to agree to this stupid dinner.