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As much of a revelation as that is, I can’t enjoy it when my heart is missing.
A knock at my door startles me from my fetal position, and I stare in that direction until whoever it is knocks again. I almost crawl back under my covers in hopes the person on the other side of the door goes away, but then they call out my name.
“Harlow? Please let me in.”
Bishop.
I leap out of bed, then come to a stuttering halt in front of the door. What am I doing? Can I even trust this man? Is he just here to officially fire me? Oh god, I don’t think I would survive that humiliation.
“We need to talk,” he says. I can hear the slight panic in his voice, as well as the heartbreak. “Please, baby girl. We can fix this.”
I choke out a sob as I unlock the door and open it for the only man I’ve ever loved.
“Harlow,” Bishop whispers, cupping the side of my face and wiping away my tears with the pad of his thumb. “Sweet girl.”
Blue eyes meet mine, and I fall apart in his arms, letting out every worry, doubt, and fear as he holds me.
“I’ve got you,” he murmurs, much like that first night he held me in the lobby.
Bishop walks us inside, closing the door behind us. He furrows his brow as he looks around my small apartment, and I know he’s wondering why I’m living here when he knows my parents could buy the whole block of apartments.
He doesn’t say anything, however, as he scoops me up and settles down on the edge of the bed. It doubles as my couch and general living quarters.
“Are you okay?” he asks. Bishop closes his eyes and shakes his head. “I mean, of course, you’re not. I just… fuck.”
Frustration and sorrow radiate off him in waves, and I lean forward, pressing my forehead against his. Deep blue eyes capture mine, and we’re brought right back to the last moment we saw each other before everything went to shit.
“I’m so sorry you had to deal with my mother,” Bishop starts. “I don’t know what she said to you, but I’m sure it was all lies. She’s a bitter, manipulative, petty person who only cares about herself. I should have cut her out of my life sooner. I’ll never forgive myself for the pain she’s caused.”
I’m not sure I heard him right. “You cut your mother off? As in…”
“As in, I will always choose you, baby girl.”
A fresh wave of tears spills down my cheeks, and Bishop quickly wipes them away. “I wasn’t sure if… I didn’t know…” I let out a shallow breath and try to get my thoughts together. “We never talked about anything long-term,” I whisper. “I thought maybe you were done with me.”
“Never,” he says solemnly, leaning back slightly so he can curl his hand around the back of my neck. Bishop tilts my head up, making sure we’re eye to eye. “I love you, Harlow. I love every single thing about you, and it amazes me that you want to be with me.” He clears his throat, looking down before meeting my eyes again. “That is if you’ll still have me.”
I nod, wrapping my arms around him as I bury my face into the side of his neck. “I love you, too,” I murmur. “So much.” Clinging to Bishop, I let him comfort me with soothing words and gentle strokes up and down my spine.
When I’ve gotten myself somewhat under control, I sit back and comb my fingers through his hair. Bishop closes his eyes, leaning into my touch. After a few moments, he gathers up my hand and kisses my palm before resting it over his heart.
“Can you tell me about the phone call with your father?”
My heart sinks at the memory of his words, but I know I can trust Bishop. “One of his colleagues saw us at the party Friday night,” I whisper. Bishop curses under his breath but lets me continue. “He said…” I take a cleansing breath before letting it all out. “He said he was beyond disappointed with me and that our tryst was an embarrassing scandal that he and my mother can’t be a part of.”
“What the hell?” Every muscle in his body tenses, and I know he has a few choice words to say.
“So, long story short,” I continue, “you’re not the only one who lost a parent today.”
“I’m so sorry, baby. What a fucking–”
“I don’t want to talk about him anymore,” I say, cutting him off. “He’s made it clear I was never that important to him, so I’m not going to waste any more energy thinking about him.”
“I’m so sorry you had to deal with all of that while I was out. Jesus, if I knew what would happen…” he trails off, shaking his head at himself. “I’m here now, Harlow. I’ll always be here for you.”
I nod, curling up against his chest. “What now?” I ask. “I make some money from freelance design projects, but not enough. I had plans to go to college, but now… and I still have stuff at my parents’ house. I’ll probably need to move or get a roommate, and–”
Bishop cuts me off with a kiss. His lips cover mine, coaxing me to open up for him. He slides his tongue against mine, the steady strokes calming me and bringing me back from the edge of panic.
