Page 106 of Vega

“I don’t cheat on my wife,” Bishop boasted proudly. “I don’t need to. My wife is beautiful, loyal, smart as hell, and she held me down when I had nothing but student loans, stress, and a dream that I barely believed in.”

The joking ceased, out of respect for the truth.

Bradley nodded. “That’s facts. Milan was around when you were studying for the bar like a madman.”

“And when I started the firm,” Bishop added. “Y’all remember that first office? I didn’t have a receptionist or any assistants. It was just me, a printer that jammed every other day, and Milan bringing food because she knew I’d forget to eat.”

Terrence lifted his cup. “Good woman.”

“One of the best,” Bradley agreed. “Patient too, because you were stressed as hell back then.”

Bishop grinned. “She never made me feel like I was failing, even when I was. She just kept telling me to keep going.”

I watched him as he said it, watched the contentment he had. I had never wanted to marry any woman I’d been with. I had enjoyed women, respected some, entertained plenty, but none of them had ever made me picture a last name, house, kids, holidays, or somebody waiting for me after I survived the streets.

But listening to Bishop talk about Milan made me understand choosing a woman to be your forever. He wasn’t talking about having a wife because it looked good. He was talking about having a woman who knew the broke version of a man, the stressed version, the uncertain version, and still decided he was worth standing beside.

I wanted that with Sonnet before I had any right to. She had seen parts of me most women never got close enough to understand, and somehow, I still wanted her closer. I wanted her in my house, in my bed, in my future, and in every quiet space I used to fill with women who never mattered past the moment.

For the first time, marriage didn’t sound like a trap. It sounded like something I could want if Sonnet was the woman walking into it with me.

Wise cut his eyes at Bishop. “You been married too long. You starting to sound like a podcast.”

No matter how much he respected what Bishop had said, Wise had to fuck with him.

As if her name summoned her, Milan walked up behind Bishop with Rain at her side.

Wise’s whole mood changed beside me, and I chuckled under my breath. He could hardly kick it with Bishop without Milan showing up, and Milan showing up usually meant Rain wasn’t too far behind. And that always ruined Wise’s night.

Bishop noticed me and Wise looking behind him, so he turned. Then he stood, smiling before Milan even reached the table. “There go my wife. I didn’t know you were walking up.”

She kissed him, saying, “You weren’t answering your phone.”

“My bad, babe. It must still be on silent from being in court earlier.” Then he went in his pocket and retrieved his phone to check the ringer.

Rain’s eyes landed on Wise, and he glared. “Aye, Rain, fuck you.”

Her brows rose. “Excuse me?”

Milan sighed. “Please don’t start, y’all.”

“Tell your girl to stay outta my fucking business,” Wise said.

Rain laughed. “I don’t give a damn about anything you got going on.”

“You gave enough of a fuck to talk shit about me to Tasha. Hating ass.”

Rain folded her arms. “Your business became my business when Tasha called me crying.”

Wise laughed, but there wasn’t any humor in it.

Bishop’s eyes moved between them. “What happened with Tasha?”

“Ask your wife’s bestie,” Wise scoffed. “She apparently gives background checks on niggas for sport.”

Rain rolled her eyes. “I told my friend the truth.”

“You told her I was emotionally unavailable and dating other women.”