Page 54 of Intolerable Bishop

“This is Theo and Ren. They are more enemies than friends,” Myles said, and then he started tapping his finger on the steering wheel. “Well fuck, now I don’t know. Asshole, why did ya go and put that thought in my head?”

“Cause it was in mine.”

Myles growled and shook his head before chugging some of his coffee. “Anyway, they should be at the cabin around noon. Nash and Liam are gonna meet us there.”

“Did you grab me some clothes?”

“Of course I did.”

“Fine, you’re mildly forgiven,” I said and closed my eyes.

JUNE 5 – MONDAY 1:11 PM

Ren

I shouldn’t have been nervous. Theo said we were going to the cabin they took me to when I tried to hike home. It was also where I saw him and Liam together. That night already felt like a lifetime ago. It wasn’t the place that made me jittery. I still couldn’t wrap my head around telling Myles and Blake that I’d slept with Theo or that he wanted to be a regular in our relationship. Then there was the fact that Theo was hoping I’d let Liam join the fun. What the fuck was happening to my life?

I went from practically being a loner, living a mundane life, to this, whatever this was. Could you have a relationship with three or four guys and not be cheating? And how did you decide which guy to kiss first when you walked into a room or called to say goodnight? Who the hell did you cuddle with at night, if any? Did I make all these decisions? My head was going to explode as each question was analyzed six ways to Sunday.

Theo slowed down and turned onto a paved road that wasn’t much better than a dirt one. It was rough going, but we eventually pulled into a driveway that had been mostly hidden by the trees. If I’d been driving, I would’ve missed it completely. The way was long and winding, the canopy of leaves so thick that it almost blocked out the bright afternoon sun.

After a final turn, there was the cabin and the guys. They were all standing outside around Nash’s truck, and my heart galloped in my chest. Oh, dear lord. If I thought they were enticing before, I’d been in the dark. But I knew now. Another traumatizing death, being shot at, a mad escape, and two passionate days with Theo opened my eyes to a few things.

One of those things was what Myles had mentioned to me. “My world outside those gates is ugly. Sex was a way to have fun and let loose, to be young and forget about all the other shite for a tiny bit of time.” I didn’t get it then. Not really. But I understood it now.

Seeing them all leaning casually against the vehicles, like a delicious and deadly meal, had my mind racing with the possibilities.

Theo didn’t pull up close but stayed back from the slight rise in the drive. Cutting the engine, he looked over his shoulder at me, and even though I couldn’t see his eyes, I could feel the intensity penetrating through the visor. This was it, time to face the music.

I got off the bike, and Theo followed, helping me with my helmet before removing his own.

“You good? You look nervous,” he said, his voice soft as he hung his helmet on the bike.

Nodding, I blew out a stream of air as I tried to control my racing heart. “This is going to be more difficult than I thought,” I said, matching his whispered tone.

“It’ll be fine,” he said, giving me a smirk and guiding me over, his hand on the small of my back.

Before we reached them, Nash burst out laughing, drawing all of our attention. He smiled at me, and he didn’t have to say it. I knew he knew. Fuck.

“Oh shit, this is gonna be good,” Nash said, continuing to chuckle.

“What,” Blake asked, his head snapping in Nash’s direction.

“You don’t see it,” Nash said and pointed. “He fucked her. Your brother did her before either of you.” Nash broke down again, and I swear to God I was going to punch him square in the face one of these days and break his nose just for fun.

Myles, Blake, and Liam looked at us in unison, and I froze, wishing I could possum my way out of this. “Is he right,” Myles asked, nodding in Nash’s direction.

“Um…well….” I lifted a shoulder and looked up at Theo.

“The answer is yes. Thanks for just blurting it out, Nash. Classless as usual.” There was a cool superiority to the way Theo said it as if he was waiting for one of them to challenge him.

“You’re welcome. I’m going to enjoy this,” Nash said, lounging against his truck like he hadn’t just lobbed a grenade and was ready to make popcorn.

I cleared my throat as the guys stared. “Yes, Theo is telling the truth,” I said.

I expected an explosion from Myles, but it was Blake who stomped toward us, his eyes windows to the bubbling rage underneath.

“What the fuck is this? You just wanted to one-up me again,” Blake asked, and Theo glared.