Page 17 of Without Bound
After the men freshened up at Bishop’s, we all met here at the restaurant where Luca and Dagen were waiting. CeCe had phoned Luca to inform him of our three added guests and when we arrived, the back room had been reserved for us.
I sat in between Keyara and Dagen which meant all of our talk was kept PG for young ears. But now that dinner is done and Uncle Nix and Viv are dropping Keyara and I off at the dorms, we’ll have plenty of time to talk and get to know one another.
“We’ll see you in the morning, sweetheart.” Keyara’s dad leans in and kisses her cheek. “Thank you for taking her back. This one needs to sleep off what is likely to be a hammering hangover. Yay for me and the long drive back.”
We laugh and say our goodbyes, then pile into Uncle Nix’s truck, and he and Viv have us laughing all the way back to our dorm.
“I’ll call you tomorrow. Thanks, Uncle Nix.” I lean between the seats and kiss his cheek. “You get some sleep Aunt Viv,” I tell her and kiss her cheek, too.
A small gasp sounds in the cabin of the truck followed by a shaky voice. “She called me Aunt Viv.”
Tears fill her big green eyes and a smile eats up her small face.
“Great. Now I’m going to have a drunk and crying Vivian all the way home. Will you go? I’ll call you tomorrow about the game.” Nix wraps his arm around Viv when she leans into him.
“Sure thing. Love you both,” I call out as I hop out of the back seat.
“Oh my gah. First she calls me Aunt Viv and now I get an I love you? Niiiixx,” Vivian cries harder.
“I know, Peaches. It’s a wonderful day.”
I wiggle my fingers at them and laugh as I skip over to where Keyara waits for me.
“Finally,” she says when I step up next to her. “I thought we’d never have time alone.”
I slip my hand through the crook of her elbow as we walk into our building. “I know. It’s like they knew we were dying to gossip and purposely ate and drank slower.”
Now that move-in day is pretty much over, the elevator is free of people hauling boxes, so we take advantage of it and ride to our third floor.
“Okay, first. Your uncle is as fine as he is talented. Sorry, but it has to be said.” The elevator stops and we step out onto our floor. “Vivian is so damn cute. They are adorable together.”
I swipe my keycard over the scanner and our door unlocks. I let Keyara walk in ahead of me and the heavy door closes with a thunk. I promptly engage the deadbolt and walk past our shared bathroom that is split between the two rooms in our suite. We have yet to meet our other suitemates, but that will have to wait until tomorrow.
“She is hilarious. Viv definitely keeps my uncle on his toes.”
I kick off my sandals and fall back onto the bed that is only half made.
“I need to know more about that delicious man, Bishop. Dear Lord, that man is juicy.” I bite my lip and close my eyes, playing back every image I have memorized of him like a movie reel. “Uh oh.”
“What?” I ask, popping up on my elbows.
“You have a thing for him, don’t you?” I smile and flop back down. “Is there something going on between you two? Isn’t he your uncle’s best friend?”
“Yes, he’s my uncle's best friend,” I explain. “And no, there is nothing going on between us…yet.”
“What? Spill. Tea now, sleep later,” she insists.
I sigh and give her the rundown of my feelings for Bishop and how they are not reciprocated.
“But all I need is for him to just look at me once, justonce, like I’m not a kid and I know things will be different. I can feel it, Keyara. Bishop and I are meant to be. We’re fated.” I finish telling her everything and look over to see her watching me with a doubting eye. “What?”
Her shoulders raise with a deep breath and she says, “Look. Idon’t know you all that well but I can already tell you’re my new bestie.” She smiles and it makes me do the same. “And as your new bestie, I’m required to give you my full, unfiltered honest opinion. It’s a law. With that said, I think you’re asking for trouble, girl.”
I push myself to sit up tall and cross my legs underneath me. “Trouble? Why would you say that?”
“Let’s run down the very obvious reasons, because apparently it needs to be pointed out with big flashing lights. One, he’s your uncle's best friend. That is at the very top of the bad idea list. Two, he’s like ten years older than you.”
“Twelve,” I correct.
