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Chapter Eight:
Homecoming
When I landed in Brisleythe next morning, I had a hangover from hell and my neck was so stiff I could barely move it. I’d made it as far as the hotel lobby before collapsing on one of the couches and passing out there, and apparently, no one wanted to wake me up and put me to bed.
What a shocker.
I didn’t make small talk with the cab driver like I normally would, either. I kept my sunglasses firmly planted on my face and my cheek firmly pressed against the window the entire drive, and maybe I let him go past my house and head to Sterling’s on purpose.
I had no idea what time it was when I knocked on their front door, but Zeppelin answered with a concerned expression she hastily tried to cover up.
“Longbottom. Come on i— damnit, Carl!” Their dog jumped so high I nearly caught him in my arms and the slobbery kisses were more than the warm welcome I needed. “Carl’s a fucking goober derp.” Zeppelin laughed at herself and doubled down. “It makes sense. You’re a goober, too.”
She hugged me, reminding me of why I chose to fly commercial in the middle of the damn night. “Missed you, Led. How are you?”
“Missed you more. I made french toast, come eat.” She made her way to the kitchen where she was almost done eating and grabbed me a few slices. “So ... talk to me. Think I don’t know When The Levee Breaks?” Zeppelin rolled her eyes at herself. “God, I’ve been hanging out with Sterling too much.”
I chuckled as I sat down and grabbed a fork. “Don’t know where to start. I’ve repeatedly asked a waitress to marry me, I’ve been a little too close to giving up my medallion, and I sort of got myself kicked out of a strip club last night. Basically, I’m a hot mess, Led. Just a fucking disaster of a human and it’s not a good look. I just don’t know how to stop.”
For once, I didn’t see pity in someone’s eyes. It was refreshing. “Well fuck me running. Can we start with the first one? A waitress? What’s so special about this one?”
“She’s entirely unimpressed by me. She actively tries not to flirt with me,” I said, laughing a little harder when I realized how that sounded. “She’s fucking breathtaking. Like five-foot-two inches of straight sass.”
“Hey, I’m taller than someone around you Bishops. I vote that one,” she joked. “She tries not to flirt, but based on that smile I’d say she’s failing?”
“Nah, I wouldn’t say that. More like ... having fun watching me make a fool out of myself every day,” I explained. “She said she’d rather fuck Rocket than me.”
“The racoon?” Zeppelin deadpanned. “She was fucking with you ... or she’s way kinkier than you are and abort mission, bro.”
I sighed and took a few moments to eat my feelings. “Probably both, honestly. Only one way to find out.”
“What way is that? Getting her in bed?” She slid over the syrup so I could add more, and I realized my sister-in-law knew me better than Destiny ever did. I should have seen the signs earlier there.
I dripped that syrup all down my chin as I shoved half a piece of french toast in my mouth, but I made no apologies. “Nope. Getting her to finally agree to a date. She said when, you know. When she agrees, not if. It’s only a matter of time.”
“Okay, so she is fucking with you.” Understanding donned on her face. “So keep being you, Ol. She’d have made it really clear if she wasn’t interested. What’s your gut telling you about her?”
“That she’s like six thousand miles out of my league,” I admitted. “She’s strong and put together and knows who she is and what she wants, even if she doesn’t think she can get there yet. My gut tells me I’d be leaving her alone if I were a better man, but that’s Sterling. Not me.”
“You are a good man, Ollie. I know sometimes it’s hard to look at yourself and see the good, that’s something most of us struggle with. But as someone who sees you for you, someone who loves you for you? You are a good person, and anyone would be lucky to have your eye. Stop forgetting it, Dick.”
I sighed, sitting back and flashing her a flirty smile. “Sorry, Led. I hate to break your heart, but you’re with my brother now. You made your choice and we don’t do takebacks around here.”
“Oh, God.” She rolled her eyes and flipped me off with a smirk. “I’m happy with my decision, you ass. Sterling was my person and I think we knew it pretty early on, we were just in denial. You’ll meet your person soon, Charlie says. He had a dream about it and you know those are gospel.”
“That’s how the Bishop Boys got saddled with you, so yeah,” I laughed. “Gospel. Did he give you details, though? Don’t come at me with gospel dreams if you’re not gonna spill the tea.”
Zeppelin laughed and briefly left me alone to grab us water. “He said he didn’t see her face, just that you guys had a curly haired kid and you said the sentence ‘I wouldn’t trade this for every jet on the planet.’ I kind of tuned him out after that because we all know you’d sell Sterling if you could get Neville back.”
“You’re not wrong. Is that an option? No one would buy him, though. They’d be bringing his cranky ass right back and demanding a refund.” I took a sip then stood to help her do the dishes. “Must be in the near future then. I’m gonna have a whole football team of kids one day, not just one.”
“I know you. You’ll have as many kids as your wife wants to have, you feminist.” She eyed me a little and then tried to play it off. “Football team though? I had a feeling you’d have enough to fill our void but I didn’t realize you’d be that crazy.”
I shrugged. “I love kids. You’re right though, I won’t have much of a say in that. Guess I gotta hope my gospel girl likes kids, too.”
“I have my fingers crossed for you.” Carl barked from behind us for no apparent reason, but Zeppelin found a way to even spin that positively. “So will Carl. He’s woofing for you ... get it? Woofing, rooting?”
“You’re gonna pull a muscle with that stretch, Led.” I ruffled her hair, then stepped out of the way when she tried to swat me. “Put your pants on though, we’re going to see my dad and then we’re stopping at the office to annoy my brother.”
