Page 67 of Without Bound
I swallow, the lump in my throat feeling like a mountain, and reply, “I know this is going to sound crazy but yeah, I think she is.”
A slow smile spreads like a growing fire on Cami’s face and soon she’s popping up from her seat.
“Bishop! Oh my gosh, this is amazing. You’re in love.” She yanks on my hands and I have to calm her excitement.
“Woah woah woah, Cami-girl. Let’s slow your roll. No one said anything about love. It may go that way, if I don’t end up dead by the hands of Nix first. But love is definitely not in the mix.”
She pats my arm, the smile not dimming. “Oh it’s love, for sure. I just know it. Eeekk,” she squeals and bounces on her toes.
“Calm down, little mama. You’re jumping way ahead. I’m barely stepping out of the dugout and you have me rounding third.”
“You and Phoenix with your baseball analogies. But I get it. Come on. We better get back down there before they come looking for us.” She moves towards the door but I stop her before she can go any further.
“Cami, I need you not to say anything to Vaughan.” Her jaw drops and her eyes grow wide as she begins to slowly shake her head. “Please Camille. I’m going to talk to Nix about us, but not yet. And I know you don’t keep secrets from Vaughan, but I really need you to keep this one. No one else can know. I would never ask something like this if it wasn’t crucial.”
I watch as her face turns solemn and I really hate to ask this of her, but I can’t have anyone else knowing about us until I can talk with Nix. There’s too much on the line, for both Anais and myself. I have to protect us.
“Please talk to him sooner than later,” she says, pointing her finger at me. “And if Vaughan guesses, I won’t lie.”
“Fair,” I tell her and scoop her in my arms. “Thank you, Cami-girl.”
“Only for you, big guy.”
I set her down on her feet and hold the door open for her. We return to the party and I try my damndest to keep my eyes from undressing Anais all night.
23
Anais
We all pile into the theater room and grab our snacks that Viv, CeCe, Cami, Cat and I set up this morning. Only for the men to come along and completely destroy it. Trays are piled with popcorn and everyone’s favorite candy, and we all balance sodas as we walk to find a seat.
Viv and Uncle Nix immediately sit in the front row. Across from them sits CeCe and Luca. In the second row, Vaughan sits closest to the wall and Cami sinks down into the middle seat, while Cat sits directly to her right. That leaves Bishop, Hayes and I to sit in the final row of chairs.
“Do you mind if I sit in the middle?” I ask them.
“Not at all, darling. Bish, slide that beastly body of yours in there. I need to sit at the end. Potty breaks,” Hayes says with a wink and a smile.
Bishop sighs and moves to the end of the row. I promptly follow behind him and situate myself to sit between the two men. Once we’ve all settled with our drink and snacks, Viv starts the movie and we all grow silent.
Lights from the screen flash across the room, and the speakers boom with every action scene. I eat a few of my snacks and soda and decide I’ve had enough for now.
I start to stand from my seat when Hayes notices and jumps before me. “I got it. You sit. I need to make my first visit to the little cowboys room, anyway.”
I chuckle and hand him my tray with a thank you. He winks –Lord, those green eyes are really something– and I settle back down. I rub my arms when a chill spreads across me, and I’m really wishing I would’ve changed into my sweats before coming in here.
“Are you cold?” Bishop whispers in my ear, amplifying the chill bumps popping up on my skin.
I nod, “A little.”
He stands and walks past me, returning a moment later with a blanket and pillow. He hands me the pillow and drapes the blanket over me before returning to his seat.
“Thank you,” I tell him in a hushed voice.
Hayes returns and we go back to watching the movie. I grow restless, seeing the other ladies cozied up with their men, and I wish I could do the same with Bishop. I get an idea and readjust myself to be more centered in my seat.
I stretch my arm out until I can slyly tap on Bishop’s thigh. He looks down and I splay my hand open wide, palm up. His eyes flick to mine and I give him a bite of my lip and begin to pull my hand back under the blanket. He looks around at everyone, but they are fully engulfed in the movie. With a quick glance at Hayes, he slowly and carefully moves his hand to meet mine under the blanket, our fingers entwining with each other.
I fold my lips between my teeth to hide my smile. Bishop’s thumb grazes across my hand. Back and forth, the callused skin of his fingertips scratches my smooth skin with every pass. I release his hand and let my fingernails gently scrape up and down the inside of his arm. His eyes close and I hear a faint groan as I continue to glide.
