Page 9 of A Game Of Love

I smile against his chest, this happy, giddy feeling that I never want to go away, lulling me into a peaceful sleep.

“Okay,” I whisper. “Goodnight.”

“Night.” And in the softest whisper, I hear, “I love you.”

Swallowing hard, a small bit of guilt hits me when I don’t say it back. It’s not that I don’t feel the same way, I do. I love Bishop. I’m falling in love with him.

But the only times I’ve ever said those words in that way, I was met with heartache and rejection. I guess my heart is protecting me, asking me to wait and make sure we’re not going to get hurt before I say the words back.

And I will say them. I will. Just not now. But soon.

Chapter 3

Bishop

How long can I stare at my girlfriend before it’s considered creepy? Ten minutes? A half-hour?

Yeah, I really should get up and stop watching her sleep before she wakes up, catches me, and realizes just how obsessed I am with her.

Not that I plan on really hiding it, because I want to be around this girl every waking moment.

My eyes trail over her face, a smile still stuck on my lips as I watch her sleep peacefully. From her long eyelashes to the cute little freckle under her eye to the rest that scatter over her nose and across her cheeks.

She has one hundred and fifty-three lashes on her left eye and one hundred and forty-five on her right. And roughly about a hundred freckles. I’ve lost count and had to start over a few times.

Dear god, yup, I’m a fucking creeper. I really need to get out of this bed right now before this girl catches me and second-guesses ever saying yes to being my girlfriend.

Careful not to wake Lilly, I slide out of bed and make my way over to my dresser.

I grab a clean shirt, boxers, a pair of sweatpants, and one of my hoodies before sitting down at my desk chair to lace up my sneakers.

Quickly, I write a note to let her know I’m going to do my morning workout and I’ll be back later. Placing the note on the bedside table, I brush some hair off her forehead, letting my fingers linger as she makes a small noise. Grinning, I lean in and softly press a kiss to her forehead.

“I love you,il mio cuore,” I murmur.

Leaving her to sleep–because it’s six in the morning, and I know my girl loves her sleep–I head into the hallway, quietly shutting the door behind me.

Just as I spin around to leave, I freeze. “What the hell?” I ask, blinking in surprise as I catch my baby sister staring at me with wide eyes, hand on her dorm room handle.

“Ahhh, morning?” She laughs nervously, giving me a sheepish grin.

“What on earth are you doing coming home at six in the morning?” I cross my arms over my chest as I raise a brow. “Looking like you're doing the walk of shame at that.”

Her face falls into a scowl. “There’s no walk of shame. Because there’s nothing for me to be ashamed about. I’m an adult, Bishop. I’m in college. I was at the same party you were. By the way, where the hell did you two go? We went looking for you both and couldn’t find you.”

“Don’t try to change the subject,” I scoff. “We clearly came back to the dorm. And if you're not doing the walk of shame, why are you walking yourself home, alone in the morning, still dressed in the same thing you were wearing yesterday?”

“I’m not alone,” she huffs, crossing her own arms, her heels dangling from her fingers.

“Really?” I grin. “Who’s with you? Your imaginary friend. Because, baby sis, I don’t see anyone but you and me. Maybe we should talk to Mom, see about getting your head checked. God knows it’s needed to be done for years now.”

Bianca narrows her eyes, glaring at me like she wishes her eyes would sprout lasers, and flips me off.

That's when the elevator door opens and out walks Jonas. “Ahh...” he starts as he steps off and into the hallway. “Everything okay?” he asks, looking between the two of us.

“Of course, you were with him,” I groan, glaring at my sister with annoyance before turning my eyes to my teammate. “What did I tell you about staying away from my sister?”

“And what did I tell you about getting fucked?” Bee sing-songs, opening her door. She pauses and takes a look around before turning back to me with a wolfish grin. “Or did a certain little blonde bestie do that for you?”

---