He didn’t want to go near her smelling of other women. It hadn’t mattered any other time before, but he didn’t want his father to win, not Robin. She was his, and he was going to fight for her.
“I’ll be waiting.”
He rushed toward his bathroom, removing his clothes, and took one of the fastest showers on record. He made sure he cleaned himself thoroughly. There were lipstick marks around his dick, and he cleaned everywhere.
Once he was done, he pulled on a pair of sweatpants and made his way into Robin’s room.
Climbing beneath the covers, he tensed, waiting for her to push him away, but she didn’t.
“Do you really want to see?” she asked.
“Yes.”
She turned her back to him, and he heard her rummaging around in her drawer, grabbing whatever it was she wanted to show him.
“This is my baby,” she said.
He liked how she referred it to “her” baby.
“Do you know what it is yet?”
“No. Maybe next time.” She stroked a finger across the blob in the center. “It makes it so much more real, you know. I’ve got a baby inside me.”
She pressed a hand to her stomach.
“Can I touch?” he asked.
Deep inside, he wanted to scream but knew he had to remain calm. His father wasn’t going to win this.
She leaned back. “Sure.”
He moved in close, putting his hand to her stomach. He couldn’t feel any baby moving, but there was a pronounced bump on her stomach.
“I’m going to get a lot bigger. Be huge.” She did a dome across her stomach. “You won’t even be able to wrap your arms around me.”
“Can I sleep in here tonight? I want to hold you. That’s all I want though, only to hold you close.”
“Yes, I’d like that.”
She turned her lamp off, and he wrapped his arms around her, snuggling in close.
“I’ve missed you, Bishop.”
“I’ve missed you, too. So much.”
Chapter Ten
Life returned to some kind of reality.
Bishop was like a whole new person in her world. He didn’t walk away, or fight with her. Each lesson he stayed with her until he needed to leave for his own class. In the mornings, he was also there, holding her hair while she threw up.
Robin felt a little guilty because she knew something was going on.
Even before she was pregnant, Bishop never showed this kind of attention.
Friday night, she was at her locker, gathering her books when the old Bishop started to show through.
“There’s a party tonight at the clubhouse,” he said.
“Cool.”
“Do you want to go?”
“I think after what happened at the last one, I’ll give it a hard pass.”
“It’s not like you’re going to get knocked up again.”
She paused in putting her books in her bag.
“Shit, I’m sorry. That wasn’t nice for me to say.”
“You still said it.”
“And I’m a fucking piece of shit for doing so.”
She tucked her hair behind her ear, putting her bag onto her shoulders. “You should go.”
“No, we’re staying in, watching a movie. It’ll be fun.”
“Come on, Bishop. You can’t fool me. I’ve known for the longest time you want to be on the party scene. It’s all you ever wanted, and now’s your chance. Go to the party. Have a lot of fun.”
“But what about you? You’re going to be on your own.”
“And I can deal. Remember, I wasn’t at all those other parties. I can enjoy my own company. You do not need to worry about me, trust me.” She hugged him.
“If you insist.”
“I do insist. You can go and have some fun. You’ve been spending way too much time around me, and with all the baby talk, I imagine you’re going insane.”
“Just a bit.”
“Then go, have a lot of fun, and tell me all about it.” They left the school, and just before they got to his car, she stopped. “You know, I really need to go to the library to do some studying. I can make my own way home from here.”
“You’re sure? I can come with you.”
“This is boring to you. I know you care, Bishop, and you want to make sure I’m taken care of, but you still also have a life. I’ll be fine.”
Bishop grabbed her face, and for the first time in so long, he slammed his lips down on hers, kissing her hard. “I love you, Robin, so freaking much.”
She laughed, pulling away. “Go, you crazy person. Go and have fun.”
She watched him as he rushed toward his car.
This was what she’d been expecting, not that she’d admit it to anyone. There was no point in doing so. He’d only deny it. She also knew what he needed, and it wasn’t hanging out with her, watching another romantic comedy.
Once she was alone, she walked the short distance to the library, keeping her bag close to her. She noticed as she walked down the street that people would look at her and whisper.