“I don’t know much about hockey, but I have heard great things about you,” Preston compliments. That is also a lie. He doesn’t even watch hockey. I’m one-hundred percent positive he doesn’t even know Nico’s last name, or what position he plays. I keep that information to myself though.
“Nice to meet you, man,” Nico replies. They exchange simple conversation and I seem to be in the clear from any awkward run-ins. But like normal, the universe hates me.
“Am I too late for the introductions?”
Great timing as per usual. I look behind me and see Bishop’s looming figure. I wish he was ugly, it would make ignoring him that much easier. I have to physically grab my eyeballs to move away from him. I hate when he wears the color blue, it always makes his eyes look that much more intense.
The navy suit clings to every muscle, moving as he does. No tie, which isn’t a shocker. I want to make a joke about how after all these years he still doesn’t know how to tie one. But I don’t.
The room always feels smaller when he is in it. It’s like I can feel him on me even though he’s not.
“Bishop! Long time no see, where have you been hiding?” My dad greets him with a smile, wrapping him in a hug. The worst part of our break-up was watching my dad lose a friend. Sure he had plenty of others, but he and Bishop were close.
“Just been busy with hockey, old man. It’s good to see you,” Bishop replies hugging my father back. When they let go of each other, he gives Nico a head nod in greeting, and then those eyes fall to me. I hate the way he looks at me.
His eyes have x-ray vision. I was sure of it. The way he could see straight to my core. Bishop looked at me like he had seen me naked. And not just physically either. Naked of all my walls, all my secrets─he saw just me.
We stood there, staring at one another. There was so much history in the way we looked at each other. We were a constant electric current, it never went away. I never stopped loving Bishop. I just had to stop waiting.
Someone cleared their throat, and I heard Preston’s voice.
“Sorry, I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m Preston.” He sticks his hand out to Bishop, the other wraps securely around my waist. My cheeks warm, and I duck my head slightly.
I take a deep breath, saying a silent prayer to myself.
Lord, I will go straight to church after this if you make this painless.
There they were. My sun and my moon. This was my lunar eclipse. The sun, moon, and earth had lined up perfectly. I was pinned between two celestial beings who both held their own power. We were a battle in the sky that only I could see.
As I looked at these two, I realized more than ever before the moon was simply a reflection of the sun’s light.
Preston was hiding in the dark, with millions of stars surrounding him. He was something I never would have noticed had the sun not looked his way. There he stood with his dark brown hair and obsidian eyes. Poised, clean, collected, perfect.
And there was Bishop. The sun. So fucking bright. Even when you didn’t want to look at him directly, you still saw him, because he shined. His golden locks were messy, his suit wasn’t freshly pressed, and his jaw was sporting a five o'clock shadow. Messy, wild, free, perfect.
Bishop grabs his hand a little rougher than someone should, shaking it up and down, a toothless smile on his face. “Bishop Maverick, I’m a,” he flicks his eyes to me quickly, “close friend.”
I bite my tongue, watching as this horror film unfolds before my eyes. Nico and my father are just standing there watching as if this is a normal occurrence, while I’m having a mental breakdown.
“Bishop? I don’t think Valor has mentioned you before. It’s nice to meet you, nonetheless. I’m Valor’s boyfriend.” His grip on my waist tightens.
Preston is the king of passive-aggressive comments. I’ve watched him in action multiple times, and I can assure you he got it from his father.
They stop shaking hands and Bishop smiles. It’s a wicked grin, one that tells me he is thinking of saying something inappropriate.
“Boyfriend? Shit, man. I thought you were the fucking designer for the event! The suit threw me off. I didn’t even know they made clothes in that color for men. In that case, it’s nice to meet you.”
My mouth drops, and I hear Nico spit up some of his drink. My father coughs, covering up a laugh, and pats Nico’s back as he coughs. I'm still standing there like a fish out of water.
Bishop has lost his goddamn mind.
Preston’s face morphs so quick, you would think a different person walked into the room. His grip on my waist is heading towards the painful direction. He is trying to mark his territory, while Bishop is barking at him like a rabid dog.
I watch as Preston forces a smile and a fake laugh. “No worries. Valor insisted I wear it. It’s her favorite. She helped me pick it out earlier today. It took her hours at my apartment. I thought she’d never pick one. Isn’t that right, baby girl?”
Bishop’s jaw tightens, the vein in his neck popping out a little more. The way he says hours hints that we had sex. When he knows good damn and well, he doesn’t last longer than twenty minutes. I hate that nickname, baby girl. My dad calls me that, not my boyfriend. Preston knows this. I’m about to say something to avert this pissing contest, but I’m too slow.
“I know all too well how long it takes for Vallie to finish making up her mind. She’s the most indecisive woman I’ve ever met.”
I’d never seen Preston angry before. Sure, we had gotten in small arguments, but he was always really quick to talk me down. It never got to the point we were angry. This version of him was something I’d never seen. If looks could kill, Bishop would’ve been chopped into little pieces and thrown into a river.
“Valley? Like the river that’s in between mountains? I don’t think I’ve heard that one before.” Preston laughs loudly, and my heart breaks a little. No, not like that kind of valley.
Bishop snickers. “Nah, it’s a me,” he nods his head towards me, “and her, kinda thing. Isn’t that right?” he says towards me but he never moves his eyes from Preston.
My dad is looking at both men confused. A silence passes. they just stand there staring at each other. They are having an imaginary dick measuring contest. There is too much testosterone in this fucking space.
“Has anyone tried the pigs in a blanket? They have this honey mustard dipping sauce, it’s seriously good.” Nico’s voice tries to break the tension but it only aids in making it more awkward.
If I could facepalm I would.
I clear my throat, stepping out of the way of alpha dogs one and two. “I’m going to the restroom. I’ll be right back.”
I don’t bother to listen for a reply. I just move toward the bathroom. I want to hide in there for the remainder of the evening.
Once I reach the women's restroom, I slip inside. I look around for any other occupants, checking the stalls. When I know I am alone, I take my heels off. Yes, I know I am in a public restroom and there are germs, but I don’t give a fuck at the moment. It’s not like I am going to be sucking on my feet anytime soon.
My feet ache, and my head is bursting with way too many emotions. I sigh when they come off, I place my palms on the sink and lean on it. I drop my head between my shoulders. I hate this feeling. I am tugged into two very different directions. My head and my heart aren’t agreeing. They are constantly battling it seems like.