Page 94 of Renegade Ruin

Tommy cackles.You are so fucked, my dude.

He might be right, but that’s a problem for future Bishop. Right now, I want to prove I can be there for Willow the way she is for me.

“Tell me what happened, Kitten,” I whisper.

Her anxiety is palpable, but she pulls back and puts on a brave face. “I was presenting my plans for the franchise to the board. They hated them, told me I was nothing but a pampered princess, and if I didn’t get in line, there would be consequences. Then they blindsided me with the interview.”

My jaw ticks and I nod. While I had major respect for Willow’s father, the board has always been a thorn in the side of this organization. More than once, I walked past Mr. York’s office and heard him yelling at one member or another about their outdated practices. But they generally gave him what he wanted, so I don’t think he rocked the boat.

Not Willow.

Willow was made to make waves. She doesn’t deserve to be put back in the box her mother kept her in for so much of her youth. She worked too hard to break free of that part of her life. I’m guilty of believing she fell back into that way of thinking. I’m not going to allow her to actually be put there.

We deserve to live.

I’m about to ask what her plans entailed when Skillet’s“The Resistance”blares as an alarm from my phone, signifying I’ve got to head back to the clubhouse to make the team bus.

Shit. It’s the worst possible time for me to have to leave. I didn’t even get the chance to distract her, let alone impart some wisdom like she always manages to do.

“You’ve got to go,” Willow surmises.

I brush a curl away from her face and nod.“I do, but I want to see your plans and Nikki’s talking points.”

She glances up, brows raised. “Really?”

I meet her eyes, memorizing the pools of blue. “Send them over and we’ll talk tonight when I drop off Phoebe and Lana.” I lean down and press a kiss to her cheek. “This conversation is far from over.”

“Okay,” she whispers, and maybe it’s wishful thinking, but I almost hear an ounce of her confidence returning.

Paired with the anger that still simmers under my skin, it will have to be enough to get me through the next few hours. Because when I see her again, we are absolutely going to have this out. And then I’m going to distract the fuck out of her.

Whatever you got to call it to sleep at night, buddy.

Fuck off, Jackson.

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN

WILLOW

Phoebe’s eyes dart from the box of gourmet donuts to me and back, her head dropping when she realizes the sweet breakfast treats arrived without her uncle in tow.

“I know you’re bummed you didn’t get to see Bishop last night,” I offer, wanting to pluck the sadness straight from her giant heart, “but he sent your favorite breakfast.”

“They’re only my favorite with him.” Phoebe huffs, resting her elbows on the island. She dramatically lowers her head into her hands and lets out a weighted sigh.

It breaks my heart. Ever since she saw me standing at the airport last night instead of Bishop, Phoebe has had a rain cloud hanging over her head. I think she needed this trip more than any of us realized. She’s kept it together remarkably well since the crash, but it’s clear having Bishop away has taken its toll on her.

I’m ready to say screw it and drive her to the team hotel if only to see her smile.

“I’ll tell you what, eat up and we’ll head down to the field early so you can watch batting practice and morning work before the game.”

“Really?” Phoebe looks up from her hands and a hint of a smile traces her lips. “Are we allowed to do that?”

“Not normally.” I plop down on the seat next to her and open the box that smells too heavenly for words. “Lucky for you, I know the owner.”

Phoebe giggles, appeased by my offer, and digs into the box, carefully inspecting each of the options available.

It wasn’t Bishop’s fault the bus broke down on the way back from Tampa, leaving them stranded for an extra three hours. By the time they were able to make it back to Fort Myers, it was late and Phoebe had already passed out on the couch. Lana made the executive decision that we shouldn’t wake her and let Bishop know we’d see him at the game today.

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