Page 25 of Without Bound
Seems she’s having an illness by proxy. I assure her that I’m fine and I will text her tomorrow.
When we reach where Bishop still stands talking to Gabby, his face fills with concern when he sees me.
“Anais? Are you okay?”
“She’s not feeling well. I’m taking her back to campus,” Cat answers for me.
“Your stuff is in my truck. I’ll take you. Just let me–”
“No,” I spit out. “I can get it later. I don’t have any classes until the afternoon so I can walk over to your office if you can just take it with you.”
He scrunches his eyebrows and looks at me like he doesn’t quiteunderstand what I’m saying. “Yeah. Ok. Sure. I really don’t mind, Ana.”
I shake my head rapidly and reach my hand out to Gabby. “Nice meeting you. Have a good night,” I rush out and move quickly to the elevator with Cat hot on my heels.
She steps in and I jam the button for the lower concourse and cross my arms over my chest.
“Sweetheart. Are you going to be okay?” Cat wraps her arm around my shoulders and pulls me snug against her.
I shake my head no but reply, “Eventually.”
It’s a lie I tell both Cat and myself. Because if Bishop chooses Gabby, I’ll never be okay.
9
Bishop
It’s been over a week of me worrying about Anais’ behavior at the game last week. It seemed like it came on so suddenly that it gave me whiplash. One minute she’s chatting with Gabby and I, and the next she’s running out the door like Cinderella leaving the ball. Except instead of her shoe, Anais left her school bag, which was picked up the next day like she said. However, it wasn’t Anais who came to get it.
She sent her roommate and when I asked her how Anais was feeling, she said, “She’ll be fine. Thanks,” then snatched her backpack from my hands before rushing away without another word.
I sent her a couple of texts throughout the week, but they went unanswered. I thought about making another trip to the cafeteria to see if I could spot her, and even made it halfway there before deciding against it and returning to my office.
I figured that if she needed something she would find me, but she never did.
My phone dings and I look to see a text from Gabby letting me know that she is on her way to Dosie’s Doe, the bar where the countryband she wanted to see is playing. We decided to meet there since she has a friend who was also meeting up with someone. I told her I would take her home because there wasn’t any way I was letting her be a third wheel to her friend’s date.
I reply letting her know that I’m leaving and will wait for her at the entrance since I’m closer to the bar than she is. I stick my phone in my back pocket and flip off the lights in my kitchen before trotting down the stairs and into the garage, where I fire up my truck and wind my way through downtown.
I lay a twenty on the bar to cover the two beers and a tip before walking back to where Gabby and her friends stand. They sway to the music that the band plays, Gabby on her own and her friend with her date. I step up and hold the beer out to her that she takes with a smile and a thank you.
The night has been nice. Good music –despite not being a country music fan– Gabby and I have made easy conversation, and I’ve enjoyed getting to know her. She’s beautiful, funny, we have a lot of things in common, but for some reason I’m just not feeling things click with her in the way I know she would like them to.
I stay for some reason, but I know exactly what the reason is. My body may be present in this bar with this woman, but my mind is on someone else. I’m distracted with thoughts of where she is and who she might be with. Is she feeling okay? Are there any problems with school? Does she need anything?
The questions run rampant, disturbing my peace that existed nottoo long ago, but now ceases to exist ever since Anais walked into my life.
The crowd cheers when the song ends and I clap along with everyone else. The band announces they’re taking a break and music filters through the bars speakers.
“So what do you think?” Gabby asks, leaning in so I can hear her more clearly.
I take a pull of my beer and nod my head. “Not bad, for a country band,” I joke and wink at her.
She smiles and bites her lip before swigging her beer back. “I’m having a really great time, Bishop. Thanks for meeting me tonight.”
“Yeah. Me too. I’m glad we did this.”
“You know, if you don’t want to listen to this band anymore, we can leave. Maybe go somewhere we can talk. Maybe my place.” Her voice is somewhat timid as she looks up at me through her lashes.
