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Chapter Fifty-eight
Mike
It took Mike forever to make it downstairs, and when he finally did, he had to stop and sit on one of the stools at the breakfast bar to breathe through the agony. He would’ve just stayed upstairs in bed if he wasn’t past thirsty and his breakfast long gone. Rayne said there was stuff to make a sandwich in the refrigerator, so as soon as he could muster the strength, he was going to fix himself some lunch. Then he hoped he’d be able to make it back up the stairs.
Mike was reading over the multiple text messages he’d got last night from Manny, Trent, and even Wood, checking on him, but nothing from Bishop or Edison, causing his heart to sink just a little further. Mike wondered if his li’l homie was even in town. Did they go on a honeymoon? Mike had never not known where his son was. He was debating calling but figured it’d be trifling to curse them out while they were celebrating.
Trent’s distinctive knock at his front door didn’t help the mood he was in. He didn’t want company. He didn’t want to look in Trent’s eyes and explain how he’d let Bishop down again. Mike got up, but the grunt that escaped without his permission made him sit back down.
“Come in!” Mike hollered instead of trying to make it to the front of the house, but Trent was already walking in, and it sounded like he wasn’t alone. Wood was with him. Shortly after, Bishop and Edison came around the corner holding hands, making Mike sit up taller. What the hell are they all doing here? This was not a good time to surprise attack him.
Mike didn’t get up and give them one-armed hugs like he always did, and he could tell that was the first thing they noticed. Bishop and Edison exchanged cautious glances, and Mike let them squirm as the four of them seemed to silently debate who was going to speak first. It appeared the awkward silence dragged out too long for Edison because he was spinning the hell out of his wedding ring while trying to avoid Mike’s scowl.
“Mike. We-we came to say—”
“Don’t, Eddie.” Bishop stopped his husband’s stammering. “I got this.”
Mike still didn’t open his mouth, knowing his silence was far more menacing than his voice.
Bishop stood in front of him. “Dad. I’m not here to apologize for making Eddie my husband, but I am genuinely sorry for not including you all in it or even realizing how much it meant to you. To all of you.” Bishop met Trent’s eyes.
Damn, Mike had been so consumed with his own hurt that he didn’t think how Bishop’s eloping affected Trent as well. He was his only brother; he was supposed to be standing beside him. Wood too.
“I am sorry that you all, my family, didn’t get to be a part of it. That was never our intention.” Bishop shook his head. “Eddie’s aunt and uncle were pretty upset too.”
Edison held his hands out in front of him. “I wish we would’ve thought of that first, but Mike, Bishop was so upset after we left.”
“Yeah. I still don’t know if I want to get to know Ivy yet,” Bishop confessed.
“That doesn’t have to be decided today, tomorrow, next month, or even next year. But if you do want to reach out to her,” Mike replied, “I won’t stand in your way.”
Everyone’s head snapped around at Mike. They looked confused, as if they couldn’t have possibly heard right. But they had. Mike had no right to react the way he did. If he’d been cooler and not duked it out with Ivy, Bishop might not have run off like he did. Rayne was slowly teaching Mike the painful lesson of accepting responsibility for his actions.
Bishop came closer. “I never wanted you to spend all of your savings on some elaborate wedding anyway. You know I wanted to keep it simple.”
Mike nodded. Yeah, he did know, and it would’ve been simple. Tasteful and deserving, but simple. “I know, B.”
“Okay, this is weirding me out.” Trent squinted at Mike. “Why are you so damn calm?”
“I’m not,” Mike answered honestly. Mike was devastated and still hurting, but his boys didn’t need to know that.
“Okay,” Trent said carefully, “is anyone else getting a Paranormal Activity vibe from Mike, or is it just me?”
Mike would’ve laughed if he had it in him. But all of them didn’t get together and come to his house just to make clumsy jokes—at least they better not have. “What are you getting at, B?”
“I want you and my brothers to still be a part of this occasion.” Bishop glanced toward the patio doors. “You have the best yard out of all of us. Maybe we can have that outdoor dinner that we had in mind.”
“Yeah, we can do that.” Mike would’ve stood, but he didn’t want them to see the predicament he’d put his body in. Instead, he nodded and clamped his son on his shoulder. Mike wouldn’t be able to give the gift of a wedding to his son, but he had to stop acting like he still didn’t have time to do something else. He just had to keep working at it.
“Wonderful.” Edison beamed. “A dinner will be perfect. I can invite my aunt and uncle and a few friends from work. I’m almost scared to tell my boss, Avery, that we eloped too, but hopefully, a nice reception will smooth things over.”
“I was thinking maybe three weeks from this weekend coming.” Bishop checked each of their reactions.
Mike noticed his son was watching his every mannerism as if he was trying to read and understand his new composure. But Mike kept reminding himself that although life kept throwing lemons his way, he always had Rayne to make the sour taste just a little bit sweeter.
“So, Dad.” Bishop held his hand out. “We good?”
Mike took it and grasped it in a firm grip, meeting his eyes. Always, he said with their silent communication.
