Page 122 of A Game Of Love

“I didn’t want to believe it.” Theo chuckles. “But even when you were kids, Ellie has been preparing me for something more between the two of you. The way you two were together growing up, it was always something more.”

“And you didn’t care?” Toby asks.

“Why would we? You're not blood-related. We’ve never tried to make it seem like you two were siblings. Yes, you call Ellie mom, and that’s what she is to you. But you and Lilly, you were never brother and sister. And because we saw the bond you had, we never wanted to force it.”

“Well, fuck.” Toby slumps back in his chair.

“You look disappointed?” Brody asks, raising a brow.

“No, not disappointed. Okay, yes, but in myself.” He looks at me. “I’ve been worrying for years, and it was all for nothing.”

“I could be an asshole and say I told you so, but I won’t.” He narrows his eyes, and I laugh. I take his hand in mine and kissthe back of it. “No more dwelling on the past, Toby. It’s not going to change anything.”

“I know,” he grumbles. “But still.”

It’s going to take him some time to process this and accept it. Toby is the kind of guy you can say something to until you're blue in the face, but he needs to experience it, to hear and see things for himself to believe it.

Sometimes, it makes life hard. It sure as hell did for Toby. And I hated that for him. But I’m glad he’s seeing it now. It’s all I could hope for.

“You do know just because you’re our son, you don’t get out of the ‘you hurt her and we kick your ass’ speech?” Chase asks.

“Oh, he knows,” Theo says, looking Toby in his eyes. “You hurt my daughter, I’m kicking your ass.”

Toby huffs out a laugh. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“So, we have to wait until he hurts her to kick his ass?” Brody asks. “Shame.”

“Brody!” Mom gasps.

“I’m just joking,” Brody mutters. “Kinda.”

Chase grins and holds his hand up for Brody to high-five. Brody eyes it up with a frown but then sighs before slapping his hand.

“Fuck yeah. You hurt our baby girl, and we’re gonna make you regret it.”

“I’ll help them.” Bishop chimes in.

“Really?” Toby growls.

“What?” Bishop grins.

“Look, I’m not going to hurt her, okay?” Toby sighs heavily and the whole table stares at him. “I’m not going to hurt heragain,” he clarifies.

“We know,” Mom agrees. “And we know you never meant to hurt her in the first place.”

“See!” Rain takes a seat next to my mom. “Told you you were worried for nothing.”

Mom looks to Rain. “You knew?” Mom raises a brow.

Rain pales. “Ahh, maybe?”

“And you didn’t tell us!” Chase gasps. “That's it, Ellie, she’s in the dog house.”

“Listen here, you little shit,” Rain growls, glaring at Chase. “Shut your mouth.”

“You mean like you did when you lied to us about these two.” Chase points at us.

“I’m not listening to this,” Jax sighs as he gets up from his chair. He comes over to me and leans down to kiss the top of my head. “I’m happy for you, Lillypad. I love you.”

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