Page 198 of Rebellious

Snapping his brows together, Bishop choked. “You want a baby?”

His appalled tone irritated her, though she flushed, reminded of how her mother had sounded. “No. Yes. I don’t know. I just…I’m afraid I’m going to die soon.”

“So, you want to have a baby and leave it motherless?”

“No! I want to have a baby so I’ll be remembered.”

“What?”

“Kaia agreed that I probably don’t have long to live. I want to experience love and motherhood and…and…stuff.”

Bishop studied her, scratched his jaw, and studied her again. “First? Kaia’s a fucking idiot.”

“He isn’t! He’s brilliant.”

“Good God Almighty, you really believe that?”

“Think about his poetry. How can you not believe it?”

“Fuck, never mind. I assume you want to have Kaia’s baby.”

“Uh—”

“Fuck,” he said, shaking his head. “Diesel’s?”

Rebel started to squirm. “Maybe.”

Sighing, Bishop slid his fingers through his hair, walked to the refrigerator, pulled out the pitcher of lemonade and refilled his glass.

“I already know you’re going to berate me or lose your patience or tell me how disgusting and gross I am.”

He put the nearly empty pitcher back into the refrigerator and returned to his seat next to Rebel. “I am sure the message can be delivered in a different way, but I wish you’d listen. Unfortunately, as long as I’ve known you, you ignore what you don’t want to hear.”

She knew that meant he wanted to warn her away from Diesel. They were friends, though, and she needed someone to talk to. As much as Momma tried to be an ear for Rebel, she, like everyone else, judged her. She also lost her temper more often than not, which made Rebel hesitate to share everything.

“I’ll listen to you,” she swore.

“Remember when you liked me?”

“I like you now,” she countered. “Unless you mean when I liked-liked you?”

“I do. You called me Shop.”

“And you called me ‘babe’. I notice you don’t anymore.”

“I like living, Rebel.”

“Daddy wouldn’t—”

“Stop right there. Do you remember Billy and Eric?”

“How can I forget them? Daddy shot them right in front of Mattie and me.”

“If I hadn’t backed off, he would’ve beaten me, castrated me, and then cut my fucking head off.”

Rebel widened her eyes.

“Your problem is you only know what Outlaw shows you and it isn’t a fucking brutal, vindictive killer. Stop underestimating that man, bro.”