Page 45 of A Game Of Love

“Dream on, idiot.” Bee glares.

“She loves a lot of me.” He wiggles his eyebrows.

“Oh, gross!” Bee shouts.

“Bishop.” I laugh, shaking my head. “Leave her alone.”

“Fine,” Bishop mutters.

“Bishop!” I hear his mom shout. “Get your ass back in here and help me.”

He lets out a heavy sigh as he rolls his eyes. “Coming!” he shouts back. “There’s been a bit of change in plans. We’re gonna grill tonight. I’ll cook for you another time. Promise.”

“That's fine.”

“You good if I leave to help Mom?” he asks me.

“I’m going to pretend you didn’t ask that,” Bee huffs. “She’s been here more times to hang out with me than she has with you. So fuck off.”

Bishop shoots her a glare but takes off, leaving me standing in the doorway with my bestie.

“Come on. Let’s go out back. My Auntie Izzy is here. And you remember my cousin, Bella?”

My spine stiffens. Bella. Oh, I remember Bella. The same cousin who would hit on Toby relentlessly when we came over for family barbecues growing up. She would gush to us how much she wanted him, how hot he was, and how someday she was going to make him hers.

I’ve never been much of a violent person, but anytime she said something like that, I wanted to rip her hair out and claw out her eyes.

Okay, so maybe my guys aren’t the only crazy jealous ones.

Bee doesn’t wait for me to say anything as she drags me through the house and into the back.

When we get outside, the smell of grilled steaks tickles my nose, and I sigh happily. Sergeant Grant knows how to grill a good steak. They always come out perfect. I’m not sure what kind of seasoning he uses, but it’s amazing.

“Heeeey,” Bee says, pulling me over to the woman sitting at a deck table. “You remember my bestie, Lilly.”

“Lilly.” Izzy grins, standing to pull me into a hug. “How are you doing, sweetheart?”

“I’m good,” I answer, pulling back to look at her. She’s beautiful. All the women in this family are. With their olive skin and dark hair, their Italian roots shine brightly. I’m honestly a little jealous. Because as I look over to see Bella sitting and watching my interaction with her mother, I see that she’s even more stunning than she was the last time I saw her.

I hate her.

I shouldn’t, because she’s never really been mean to me, but I can’t help the spark of jealousy. She’s over Toby by now, right? She better be.

Last time I saw her was two years ago, just before Toby and I started to drift apart. And she very much was into him back then.

She doesn’t go to SVU, so I’m not sure the last time she saw him. I’m sure it was a lot more recent than me, seeing how Toby and Bishop have always been close.

Until now. Because of me.

I shake my head to get out of my own thoughts. “Sooo... tell me, how’s school going?”

“It’s going good,” I tell her, moving to take a seat next to her. Bee comes and joins me, taking the seat next to her cousin. “Hi.” I smile over at Bella.See, I can be nice.

“Hi.” She beams back. “It’s been a while.”

“It has.” I nod.

“I’m sorry to hear about you and Toby.” She frowns.

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