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12
Bishop
Rowan’ssurf shack is small and sparse, but it’s nice. It’s cozy in a way. Our cells are off and Rowan picked up a few groceries for us on the way here. We also stopped for some spare clothes for Cora at a big box store.
I caught a glimpse out of the back window of his van at the other van he suspected, parked up the street from Tanner’s place. And sure enough, yeah, it’s a surveillance team. I recognize it as one we’ve used on the force before.
It’s a cold feeling. But what warmed me was seeing the way Tanner and Cora bantered and grinned at each other the whole drive here. Maybe that should have pissed me off, or made me jealous. But oddly, it didn’t.
I like seeing her smile. And hell, even with whatever is going on, Tanner’s my best friend. Of course I like seeing him happy too.
Tanner and Cora bring the groceries inside. I wave to Rowan as he drives off from the surf shack. He gives me a knowing nod out the window, and then he’s gone. I want to fill Tanner in on what Rowan and I discussed while Tanner was getting Cora. But I’m not going to. I’ve got my own plans in the works, just as a backup.
It’s a Hail Mary. And I hope to God we don’t need it anyway.
It’s getting late, and Tanner volunteers to make dinner. My stomach growls in anticipation. He might be a stubborn son of a bitch sometimes, but my friend can definitely cook. An hour later, he, Cora, and I sit down for a feast. She even finds a bottle of cheap wine in the back of a cupboard.
Part of me is hesitant to introduce alcohol to this volatile situation between us. But, screw it. I eat, I drink, and I feel a warmth in my veins when I look at her across the table.
Fuck, I wasn’t overstating it with Tanner. When I look at Cora, I feel something. It’s a draw I’ve never felt before—something that hooks me close to her. She makes my heart beat faster. I know Tanner feels the same way, or at least very similarly. I’m not quite sure what to do with that or how to process that yet.
But for now, there’s food, wine, and good company.
“Okay, okay,” Cora laughs. “Tanner, this is fucking awesome.”
He grins. “Thanks.”
“I mean I saw you had a nice kitchen at your house. But I didn’t expect this!”
He beams smugly. “I like cooking. I just don’t get to do it for more than just me usually. Happy almost Valentine’s Day, I guess.”
“Aww honey, you shouldn’t have,” I grunt. Tanner throws his napkin at me. Cora giggles.
“Well, this is amazing,” she sighs happily around a bite. “Better than sex.”
We all go quiet. She blushes and glances at me. Her blush only gets deeper though as she tries to hide her smile. I grin back and then hide it away. But suddenly, Tanner starts to chuckle into his food.
“Ouch. I mean Bishop’s right here.”
She blushes deeper. “Well, I mean…”
“Oh you don’t have to cover for him. It’s all over town that he’s a shitty lay.”
Cora bursts into a mix of laughter and embarrassment. I roll my eyes at my friend. “Oh we got jokes now, huh?”
“Hey man, just speaking the truth.”
I laugh. This is Tanner being a dick to be funny, not to be an asshole. And that’s a good thing. It means the tension is gone, or at least going away.
“I mean if we’re talking news around town, you’re the guy who lives all by himself but just never seems to be seen with a woman? Always with the clean cut hair, the nice clothes. Really into design and cooking?”
Tanner chuckles and rolls his eyes back. “Yep, I’m into nice stuff, dressing well, and cooking. I must like guys, right?” He flips me off with a grin. “Dick.”
The three of us laugh. Tanner reaches for the bottle of wine and starts to top us all up. But he skips me and pours the last drop into Cora’s glass.
“Aww, none for Bishop?”
He chuckles. “Oh I was more worried about making sure you had enough. You know, ease the sting from that terrible sex you had to put up with earlier.”
