Page 99 of A Game Of Love

He doesn’t yell, but I see his mouth moving.

Whatever he’s saying to her has her looking all kinds of embarrassed.

A few moments later both boys are joining me in the car.

They don’t say anything, and I’m grateful for it. I don’t want to talk about it. Nothing they say will change what was done.

I just want to move on and put it behind me. That's how I’ve learned to carry on all the times I’ve heard people talk about my family. About me.

If I sit and replay the words, I give them power, and I refuse to.

When we get back to the dorm, I head towards my room. “I’m going to spend the night in my room,” I tell the guys, feeling heavy and exhausted from today's events.

“No, you're not.” Toby grabs my hand and pulls me towards his room. “You're sorely mistaken if you think we’re going to leave you alone right now.”

I don’t resist as he pulls me into their room. They work together to pull me out of my clothes. Bishop puts me in his t-shirt and Toby in a pair of his boxers.

Toby scoops me up and tosses me into Bishop's bed, where they each take a side.

Trying not to cry at how much they know me so well and what I need, I close my eyes and let my men surround me with their love and support. This is how we need to be, this is how we get through all the nasty comments people will send our way.

As long as we have each other, we’re going to be okay.

Chapter 19

Bishop

I feel like shit for the way that Bella acted at Thanksgiving. The things she said to Lilly were uncalled for and pissed me the fuck off. Family or not, you do not talk to my girl like that.

After telling her a few unkind things, we drove back to the dorm. Earlier that day, we had plans to hang out, watch movies, and maybe have a little bit of fun.

But after seeing how defeated and closed off Lilly was, we just ended up cuddling in bed and going to sleep.

I asked if she wanted to talk about it, and she said no. That there was nothing that could be said to change what happened, and while it hurt for her to hear, it’s life. And that we can’t control everyone's feelings towards the subject.

She’s putting on a brave face, and I don’t want her to. Doesn’t she know it’s okay to get mad?

Today, she seems to be a little better. Her smile is back, and that laugh that makes my heart skip a beat is present.

Still, I want to make it up to her, to give her a better day. That’s why I woke up early, did my workout, and took Lilly out for breakfast.

After that, we did some shopping, picking up some Christmas gifts for friends and family, then stopped at her mother’s bookstore.

Let’s just say, she went a little crazy on the book buying. Did I complain? Nope, I stood there like a good boyfriend and let her pile all the books she wanted into my arms and followed her around as she got excited while telling me about each of them.

Seeing her get excited over books made me smile. It’s adorable. Books to Lilly is like hockey to me: a passion, a part of life.

More and more, I'm seeing this girl open up, explore her wants and needs, and talk about what she’d like to do with her life.

Whatever it is, I’ll be right by her side to support her.

“What do you wanna do now?” I ask her as we make our way out of the movie theater.

“I could think of a few things.” She spins around, grinning as she grabs a piece of popcorn from the bucket and pops it into her mouth.

“Oh yeah.” I chuckle, wrapping my arm around her waist and pulling her close. “What might they be?”

“I don’t know.” She shrugs. “Guess we’re going to have to go back to the dorm and see.”

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