A Game Of Love (A Forbidden Game #2)

Chapter 4

Lillianna

“You good, il mio cuore ?” Bishop asks.

Blinking out of my own thoughts, I turn to look at him. “I’m fine.” I give him a small smile. “Just got lost in my thoughts.”

“Should I be worried?” He raises a brow.

“No.” I laugh. “Just a little nervous.”

Looking out the front window, I see that we’re already at my parent's place. I didn’t even notice.

“About?”

“Everything.” I sigh, shifting in my seat. “I don’t think my parents would care that we’re dating. They would be happy for us. They trust and respect you.”

“That's good to know.” He lets out a nervous chuckle, running a hand through his inky hair. “Honestly, I’ve been a little worried about that. I like your parents, and I also respect them. But your dads terrify me, and one of them is my coach. He could make my life hell on the ice if he wanted to.”

“Jax isn’t like that.” I laugh. “Now, Brody, on the other hand.” I grin.

Bishop visibly shivers, making me laugh harder.

“I’m also worried about Toby,” I admit.

“Yeah. Me too.” Bishop nods.

I texted Toby, giving him a heads-up to let him know that we were coming over. I didn't want to ambush him or invade his space. I want to talk to him before I leave, to get an understanding of where his mind is.

I’m worried about him, how he’s dealing with all this, and if it’s going to cause a setback for him. While I put on a brave face for Bishop, guilt and worry gnaw at me on the inside.

I love him. So much it hurts sometimes. Most of the time. And maybe I’m a glutton for punishment, but I’m not giving up on him.

I’ll never be able to. He’s mine. And I’m his. We will work through this together.

He wants me. I know that much. He wants to be with me, and we just need to figure out what's going on inside that brilliant mind of his. Together.

Bishop gets out of the car and makes his way over to my side. Opening my door, he holds out his hand for mine.

Laughing softly, I let him pull me to my feet. “Ready?”

“Ready.” I smile.

While everything outside is calm and serene, the moment I open the front door, it's utter chaos.

The twins speed by us, screaming and laughing. A moment later, Bennett races past, chasing after them. “Get back here, you little shitheads!”

“Woah, woah, woah.” I grab Bennett’s arm, pulling him to a stop. “What's going on?”

“They have my phone!” Bennett growls, nostrils flaring. “They’re reading my text messages out loud.”

My brows jump. What the hell? Where are my parents? And why are my brothers running rampant?

I’m about to go in the direction the twins went when I see Toby dragging them back our way, a hand fisted in the back of each of their shirts.

“I told you two to lay off your brother,” Toby grumbles, stopping before us with two guilty-looking little boys. “And now you're grounded.”

“What!” Raiden gapes up at Toby. “You can’t do that.”

“Yeah!” Isaiah sasses back. “You're not our parents.”

“No, I’m not. I’m your brother, and I’m watching you while our parents are out shopping, which means I’m in charge. I leave to go to the damn bathroom, and I come out to you two terrorizing Bennett. You think the moms or dads would be okay with that?”

“No,” they both mutter at the same time.

“No. Because it’s not right. You two need to be nicer to Bennett. He loves you, he’s your brother. And at the end of the day, he’s gonna have your back. Why can’t you do the same for him?”

I watch in awe, not remembering the last time Toby went all big brother on these boys. I like it. It’s what they need. I do my best, but sometimes big brothers do it better.

“Sorry, Bennett,” they say together, tones filled with remorse as they drop their heads.

“Now, go to your room.” Their faces brighten. “Scratch that. Isaiah, you go to the spare room, and Raiden, you go to my room. But don’t touch any of my shit. This way, neither of you can play with toys.”

“But your room smells.” Raiden scrunches up his nose.

“Get out of here, you little shit,” Toby mutters, pushing the two of them forward as he lets go of their shirts. They take off, running towards the stairs.

Toby sticks his hand in the pocket of his sweatpants and pulls out Bennett’s phone.

He looks so damn good right now. He doesn’t have a shirt on, showing off all of his sexy tattoos. His pants are hung low, the damn V that makes my mouth water on full display. Now is not the time to be thinking dirty things, yet there goes my mind.

“I don’t need your help,” Bennett snaps, snatching his phone from Toby’s hand.

Toby lets out a heavy sigh, running a hand through his hair. “Are you going to hate me forever?”

“I’m going to hate you as long as you’re hurting my sister.” Bennett crosses his arms.

“Hey.” I step forward. “First of all, no one should be hating anyone. We’re family. We don’t turn on one another. I know you're upset with how things have been between Toby and me. And I love you so, so much for that—for being on my side and caring about me as fiercely as you do.” I give him a soft smile. I love my brother. He’s my best friend. But I hate seeing a rift between him and Toby. “But there’s no need to be pissed at Toby anymore. We’re on the road to mending things, okay? He’s not going to hurt me anymore.”

“No. I’m not,” Toby’s gruff voice behind me makes me shiver. “I’m never going to hurt her again,” he vows.

Bennett snorts. “Actions, buddy. Words don’t mean shit.”

He’s got him there. “I know. And I plan on showing her.”

Bennett narrows his eyes suspiciously.

“No fighting today, okay? It’s supposed to be a fun day. A family day. Any issues are put on pause.” I remind them.

“Fine,” Bennett mutters, rolling his phone in his hand. “Thank you,” he tells Toby.

“I’m always on your side,” Toby replies. Bennett pauses for a moment before nodding.

“Now that's all settled.” I clap my hands and turn to Toby. “Where’s the adults?”

“Rain and Ellie went to go get some stuff to bake pies. Chase, Brody, and Jax went to pick up craft supplies. It turns out the twins broke into the storage room and used up all the paper and glue. And Dad had to go to work to handle something. But he should be back soon.”

“I don’t think I want to know what they did with all that paper and glue,” I laugh. A mess our parents are sure to find someday.

“So, that leaves us and the boys,” Toby says.

“To do what?” Bennett asks.

“Well, I thought instead of going to the grocery store to buy pumpkins, we could go pick some out.” Toby shrugs, shoving his hands into his pockets. My eyes track the movements, and I find myself looking at that damn V again. I catch myself quickly, snapping my eyes up.

Bennett’s eyes light up. “Really?”

Toby nods. “Go get dressed. I’ll handle the gremlins.”

“Awesome!” Bennett takes off running.

Toby turns to me, and when our eyes meet, my body sways, and my heart thunders in my chest.

“And you,” he murmurs, stepping close. “I know we still have things to talk about, and I’m sorry I haven’t texted. I’ve been in my head all night and morning. But I want to get something straight.” He steps forward, cupping my cheek. I suck in a breath at his touch, eyes fluttering shut. I missed him. Fuck. Why do I feel like crying? “You and me? We’re good. I’m not running. I’m not changing my mind. All I ask is for some time before we go public and for you to allow me to show you, to make up for all the bullshit I’ve done to you.”

“Okay,” I whisper, blinking my stinging eyes open.

He leans down and presses a kiss against my lips. I can’t help but whimper as my body gravitates towards him.

Wrapping an arm around my waist, he pulls me flush to his body as the hand on my cheek slides to cradle the back of my head.

I whimper, parting my lips as I let him kiss the soul right out of my body. He growls in satisfaction, his lips and tongue working sinfully against mine before pulling back. I’m breathless, my head is spinning, and I feel like I’m high.

Looking up at him with heavy lids and a heaving chest, I have to convince myself why pulling him into a room and riding him like a pony isn’t a good idea.

So, I take a step back and bump into a body behind me. My head snaps up, and I find a grinning Bishop. “You look...” he chuckles. “ A little flustered there, Shorty.”

My cheeks heat as my hand moves to my tingling lips.

“You're okay with that?” Toby mutters. “That I just kissed her right there in front of you.”

My body tenses. Please, god, don’t let them get into it. Not here, not now.

“Yes,” Bishop answers cooly. “Because she’s yours too.”

“Damn right, she is.” Toby crosses his arms, giving his best friend a glaring look. “Always has been, always will be.” I want to point out that he doesn't have the right to be all alpha with me right now, not with everything he’s done. Plus, the fact is that he’s not fully out of the dog house just yet. And he won’t be until he’s done a bit of groveling, showing me that he’s really going to change. That he’s really not going to change his mind. And that we’re not going to slip back into old ways.

“But–” Bishop steps up behind me, his hand grazing my throat as he slides it up to cup the bottom of my chin. He tilts my head back so that I’m looking up at him. I swallow hard under his hand, my body humming at his touch. He looks down at me with a blazing heat in his eyes. “She’s also mine.”

He lowers his face, his lips pressing against mine. It’s not as deep as Toby’s kiss was—the angle won’t allow it—but that doesn’t make it any less intense or lessen the thrill that’s vibrating through my body right now.

“Alright, ready to go!” Bennett’s voice has me jumping out of their hold and to the side of them.

“I’ll go get the twins ready,” I say a little too cheerfully and loudly before taking off. I need a moment. Being trapped between the two of them is too much for my brain and body to handle.

What would they do with me if I was trapped between them, naked?

Okay, Lilly, let’s pull the breaks on that one. Let’s work on building a relationship with them first before we start thinking of group sex.

Do I even want them to take me at the same time?

“Who the hell are you fooling?” I mutter to myself. “Of course you do.”

The pumpkin patch ends up being a lot of fun. The twins spend most of their time picking a pumpkin and then changing their minds. Repeating the process a million times before finally settling on the ones they want.

Bennett takes a lot longer to pick his, checking out each one, making sure it’s the right size and fit for what he plans to carve on it.

Once he does, we stick it in the wagon.

“Why don’t you three go over to the playground while we pick out ours,” Toby suggests.

“I don’t play at playgrounds.” Bennett glares at him.

“Fine then, sit and watch the boys play while you text your friends,” Toby corrects with his eyebrow raised.

“Fine, whatever,” Bennett huffs. “Come on, turds, let's go.”

“I’m telling Mom you called me a turd!” Isaiah says.

“Yeah, turd.” Raiden laughs.

“You wanna play the tattle game?” Bennett asks. “You just called me the same thing.”

Raiden’s eyes widen. “No.”

“Go.” Bennett points towards the playground, and the twins take off. “Kids,” he mutters as he starts to walk in their direction.

“He’s like a tiny adult sometimes,” Toby sighs heavily. “How did he go from the little boy who would follow us around to a teenager who has such an attitude.”

“Life,” I say sadly. “We all grow up. Change.”

“Yeah,” Toby murmurs, his eyes flash a bit of guilt.

Bishop pulls the wagon along as we search the pumpkins, me in the middle of the two men I love the most in the world. No one says anything, walking in silence. I hate it.

I want to grab each of their hands and hold them, to laugh and joke around like we used to. To be together.

“Is it always going to be like this?” I ask in a whisper, finally breaking the silence.

“No,” Toby admits. “I’m just not ready to forgive him yet.”

“Toby,” Bishop’s voice is filled with guilt.

“No. I don't want to hear it.”

“We need to talk, man,” Bishop insists. “You have to know I didn’t set out to hurt you. I’ve never tried to steal her away from you.”

“Stop!” Toby barks. “Just stop. Look... I love you, man, I do. But it fucking hurts. Too much, too fast. My mind is still a little messed up.” Toby scrubs at his face in frustration. “I’m taking my meds; I’m talking to my therapist. I’m doing everything I should be. But I can’t just make these feelings go away. My main focus is building Lilly’s trust back. To show her how much I love, need, and want her. Besides my mental stability, she’s the most important thing in my life. I can’t just put on a happy face, slap your back, and say no problem, man. All’s good . Because it’s not. Maybe I’m overthinking things; maybe I’m making a bigger deal over this than it should be. But that doesn’t change the fact that that's how I feel. So, we’re going to take this day by day. I’m going to work through my own shit before we work through ours. We’re going to love Lilly, be there for her, and be civil to one another. I don’t hate you; you're still my best friend. But you two being together is going to take some time to process, to get used to.

“I’m not asking you to hide what you have. As much as I know it’s going to make me so fucking jealous to see you do everything I want with her, I’d never do that to Lilly. She deserves to be happy. She’s not some secret that needs to be hidden. I just ask you not to expect me to jump on this whole throuple thing. In my mind right now, I’m with Lilly. She’s with you. We’re not this happy little family.”

“Toby.” My eyes fill with tears. I hate how complicated this all is. It’s a mess. And I know better than to think that all of this will be okay overnight. It’s going to take time, work, and a lot of patience.

Toby cups my cheek with one hand, placing his thumb over my lips to silence me. “I love you, Flower. Now, go pick a pumpkin. We still have a whole day of family fun. This isn’t going to change how we are around one another. Because remember: we are best friends before anything else. Let me be your friend. Let me be there for you. The rest will click into place when it’s time.”

He presses a kiss to my forehead before stepping away to continue looking at the pumpkins.

I watch him for a moment before turning to a silent Bishop. He gives me a smile. “It’s gonna be hard, but everything will be okay.”

“I hope so,” I sigh heavily.

“It’s not going to be easy for him. His brain works differently. I’ll respect his feelings. We will make this work.”

When we get home, the boys take off into the house, leaving us to do all the heavy lifting.

Thankfully, my parents are back.

“Need some help?” Brody asks as he approaches the car, Jax trailing behind him.

“Yes, please.” I laugh, staring at the back seat of the van we took to the pumpkin patch.

“Holy shit.” Jax chuckles as he takes a look at the hoard of pumpkins. “Why so many?”

“The twins wanted to make sure everyone had one to carve.” I smile, shaking my head.

We were ready to leave, all the pumpkins paid for before Isaiah got upset because we didn’t get the parents any.

Toby and Bishop went back to the van to load what we had already while I took the boys to pick out something for our parents.

I grabbed the ones for our moms, the twins found ones for Jax, Chase, and Theo, while Bennett picked something out for Brody.

“The twins made us write names on them with a permanent marker,” Bennett grumbles. “Like it’s the end of the world if someone doesn’t have their assigned pumpkin.”

Brody chuckles. “Which one is mine?”

Bennett’s eyes light up. “The biggest one, in the back.” He points. “I picked it out.”

“Holy shit.” Brody’s eyes widen when he sees it. “That really is massive.”

“Right!” Bennett grins. “I thought you could carve Batman and Robin on it. It has enough room for both.”

“Now, I like that idea.” Brody muses his hair. “Let’s get these inside.”

Once all the pumpkins are outside in the backyard, I join Mom and Rain in the kitchen.

“Hey, Lillypad,” my mom, Ellie, greets, bringing me in for a hug. “How was your day with the boys?”

“Actually, it was pretty fun. The twins weren't too bad. They’re lucky they even got to go, though.”

“What do you mean?” She frowns.

“They were giving Bennett a hard time earlier.”

“What!” Mom grumbles. “I swear, those boys are going to be the death of me,” she huffs out.

“It’s okay, Toby handled it pretty well.”

“Good,” Mama Rain says, just as the twins walk by. “But the next time you mess with your brother, no more games for a week.”

Their eyes widen in horror. “No!” Isaiah shouts. “That's not fair.”

“I’ll show you what’s not fair,” Jax says, grabbing Isaiah and throwing him over his shoulder. Isaiah laughs as he spins him around before putting him down. “Now, what's this I hear about you bugging Bennett?”

“We just wanted to see what he was saying to his boyfriend,” Isaiah pouts.

My brows rise. “Boyfriend?” Is he talking about Easton? As far as I know, they’re still on the outs.

“It’s none of your business who your brother talks to,” Mom sighs. “Boys, we need to respect each other's privacy. Would you like it if your brother did the same to you?”

“We don’t have phones,” Raiden huffs, crossing his arms.

“And it’s going to be a long time before you do if this is how you're going to act,” Theo joins in.

Raiden’s eyes widen. “No!”

“Then what are we going to do?” Theo asks.

“Leave Bennett’s phone alone,” they both say at the same time.

“Good, now go help Toby and Bishop with the pumpkins out back,” Theo says, the boy's eyes lighting up. “But don’t touch anyone else's pumpkin.”

The boys take off running, laughing as they go. Theo sighs. “I’ll be surprised if they don’t end up dropping theirs.”

“Could just play it off like last year.” I grin.

“Don’t remind me,” Mom groans. “I’m still annoyed with Chase for that one. So much pumpkin to clean up.”

Last year, Raiden dropped his pumpkin when he was trying to move it to the front of the house. Of course, he was upset and crying. In swoops Daddy Chase with the bright idea to make them zombie pumpkins, and his was just a zombie we had to destroy. Raiden loved the idea, and so did Isaiah. Next thing you know, the twins were taking their T-ball bats to all the pumpkins, screaming about having to kill the zombies. Only good thing was that half of us didn’t start on our pumpkins, wanting to get the kids done first. So, at least we didn’t spend hours working on designs.

And in good old Chase fashion, he loved every moment of it. Joined in, too.

Sometimes, my dad is more of a child than the kids are. But I wouldn’t change him for the world.

Theo heads out back with all the guys, Jax joining him as I stay in the kitchen with my moms. “Need any help?”

“Nope, I think we got everything,” Rain answers, looking up from where she’s kneading dough for the pie she’s making. “Why don’t you go out back with the guys?”

My brows furrow. “You trying to get rid of me, Mama?” I accuse her in a joking tone.

“Never.” She laughs.

“Stay, sit,” Mom says, pulling out a stool from the kitchen island. “It’s been a week since we’ve seen you. How are you doing? How are you coping?” She chews on her lower lip, worry swimming in her blue eyes. I know she’s talking about Toby and finding out about his bipolar disorder.

“I’m doing fine, Mom,” I admit because overall, I am. Yes, I’m worried about Toby. It’s hard not to. I’m still hurt that I was the last one in his life, aside from our brothers, to know what he’s been having to deal with for years now. But I’m not one to hold grudges; I’m not going to dwell on the past. It was his life, his health. I didn’t have the right to any of that information. I just wish he trusted me with it, but I understand why he didn’t tell me.

“And you and Toby? How are things going between the two of you? You haven’t given up on him, have you?”

My eyes widen. “W-what? Of course not. Why would you think that? You know me better than that, Mom. I’d never give up on Toby, especially not over something like this.”

She lets out a breath of relief. “I know. I know. I’m just worried. But he’s doing so well. And I’m so proud of him for asking for help.” She beams with pride. My heart clenches at that.

How he must have felt, keeping everything inside, struggling alone... I wish I’d known. I wish I could have helped, to take some of the pain away.

“Me too,” I whisper.

“So, things are good between you two?” Rain asks, looking up at me as she starts to press the dough into a pan.

“We’re on the right road. He still has some making up to do. But I’m confident we’ll get back to where we were before.” My eyes gravitate towards the window. Outside, I can see Bishop playing with Bennett and Toby playing with the twins. Both far away from one another.

I hate it. I don’t want to come between them. But I know we can’t just snap our fingers, and everything will be right again.

Sadly, these things take time and patience.

But the question for me is, just how much patience do I have left?