Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 88225 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88225 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
“Bishop Love. Is it true? Did you and Saga Walden get hitched?”
I look up and freeze. We’re surrounded. I look around for Dwayne. I asked him to give me and Saga a little space to be normal. He was dealing with some shit and seemed a bit distracted anyway.
The last time I saw him, he was pacing and talking on the phone. I wasn’t concerned. With the shades and baseball cap, not many people recognized me. However, now he’s too far away.
Pushing Saga’s body behind mine, I start to retreat back into the shop. That is until I hear words that turn my blood into hot lava. I can feel my face turning red.
“You were seen with someone else last night. We have photos of a girl in a pink dress,” one reporter says.
“How does your wife feel about that? You guys haven’t been married longer than twenty-four hours and you’re already falling into your old ways,” someone calls out.
It’s happening again. This is how it starts. The fame was just one of the things that drove a wedge between me and Bev. The press made her doubt everything about me.
“What old ways? What the fuck do you know about me? My wife was with me. That fan tried to push herself on me. You’re so quick to make shit up—”
“Bishop,” Saga barks my name, shutting me up.
I close my eyes, realizing what I just did. Fuck. Our families are going to know we’re married within the hour.
I turn my back to the cameras and gently push Saga into the store. She looks up at me with such worry and disappointment. I’m fucking crushed I broke her trust.
“I’m so sorry. I… I wasn’t thinking. Shit, baby. I’m sorry,” I say.
“I’m going to have to leave. I need to get to my parents before this blows up,” she says.
“We can FaceTime them. They’ll understand.”
“No, they won’t. My father has dreamed of walking me down the aisle since I was born. Finding out I’m married through Messy Maga or some gossip site or… oh my God. You’re Bishop Love. This will be on the freaking news,” she starts to freak out.
“Baby, come here,” I say soothingly, pulling her into my arms. “We’ll figure it out. I’m so damn sorry.”
“I’ll call them now. When we get to the hotel, I’ll make arrangements to head to LA,” she says.
My heart sinks. She’s not hearing me. I feel like she’s slipping away from me.
“I’ll cancel the last shows,” I say, pulling my phone out.
“No, you can’t do that,” she says, pulling away from me. “Your fans have waited all this time for you. I’ll be fine. I’ll see you in Cali.”
I swallow hard. “Just promise me we’re in this together.”
She gives me a weak smile that fades as her phone rings. She answers and the tears start to fall as she listens. When I go to reach for her, she turns and walks away.
I can’t live this again.
Saga
“You okay?” Dwayne asks for the hundredth time from the driver’s seat of the rental.
Bishop insisted that Dwayne drive me to Calabasas. I could have made the trip on my own. I might have preferred it.
“I’m as good as I can be,” I say.
“I had no idea you guys took off to get married. I thought… well, you know. I thought he wanted me to disappear so you guys could hook up or some shit,” Dwayne says.
“This was supposed to be a happy time. Why do I feel like shit?”
“Your parents laid into you, huh?”
I rub my throbbing temple. “Much worse than that. I knew my father would be upset, but… he called me irresponsible. That cuts so deep coming from my dad.”
“Our parents always want the best for us, but that doesn’t mean they always know what’s best for us. Take it from someone who tried to please his parents until it nearly ruined my life,” he says.
“It’s like I know I’m a grown woman, but when my parents start in on me, I forget that. I spend so much time not wanting to disappoint them,” I murmur.
“Well, just remember you have a husband now. Bishop is a good guy. The whole social media thing… there’s more behind it. Just be patient with the situation and know he’ll do anything for you,” he says.
My curiosity is piqued, but I get the feeling he’s not going to say more than that. Bishop’s face when I left comes to mind. He looked heartbroken. As if he won’t be on his way here after the last show.
“I miss him,” I think out loud.
“I’m sure he’s missing you too,” he replies. “My cousin is crazy about you. He’ll make this right.”
I don’t reply. I don’t know if this is up to Bishop to fix. I need to sit and talk to my family. This isn’t the way we do things and they’re pissed at me.