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“You two are fucking hilarious. It’s like you hate each other but will burn the world for the other.”
“Damn right,” Bishop grumbles. “But not before I kick her ass.”
“You would not.” I giggle, and he narrows his eyes at me for calling him out.
“Bishop.” My eyes snap up to see Toby standing nearby. But he won’t make eye contact with me as he glares at Bishop. “We gotta go or we’re going to be late for class.”
“Shit,” Bishop hisses and gets to his feet. “Tonight, you’re mine. Don’t forget it.” He winks, taking off with Toby.
“Lilly,” Ryan says my name, getting my attention.
“Yeah?”
“Why does Bishop call you his heart?”
My brows rise. “What? He doesn’t.”
Ryan smirks. “But he does. Il mio cuore means ‘my heart’ in Italian. My nonna is Italian and that's what he’s calling you.”
I blink at him a few times, trying to process what he said, then look away, staring blankly at the table. If what Ryan’s saying is true, why would he call me that? Why would he call me his heart?
Speaking of hearts, mine is racing about a mile a minute as my belly flutters. I’m not even mad about it—no, quite the opposite. I love it.
Damn it. I shouldn’t be falling for my best friend, Toby’s best friend. It’s too messy, and I’m just going to get my heart hurt all over again.
It’s not the idea of wanting two men that worries me, my mom is with five partners after all. It’s the possibility that I’ll be crushed by both of them that terrifies me. Losing one best friend is hard enough, I don’t think I could take it if I lost both of them.
Chapter 22
Bishop
I’ve never been this excited to see a girl before in my life. Or should I say another girl, because this is the same feeling I used to get when I first started having feelings for Lilly way back when.
It’s so odd to feel nervous and excited over a girl. I’m not shy when it comes to women. I’ve had my fair share. Some might call me a manwhore, but I’ve always treated any woman I’ve been with respectfully, never leading them on, and I was always upfront about what things would be like between us when I took them to bed.
Not that the puck bunnies cared, they still tried to become more than just a fun night together. Never happened, though. I’ve never had a girlfriend, never wanted one. I’ve enjoyed having fun, being free and young.
But now the idea of touching another girl makes me shiver in unease. I want one girl, that much is very clear now.
At lunch, seeing Ryan’s arm around her, made me want to fucking rip it off her body and shove it up his ass. So when they admitted they were nothing more than just friends, I got way too damn happy about that.
I’m so damn confused, and I don’t know what to do. I want Lilly, I’m not going to be like Toby and fool myself into thinking I don’t. But the thing is, my best friend is in love with her.
I stayed back, kept my feelings to myself, and left Lilly alone because I was convinced that someday Toby would get his head out of his ass and make her his. Clearly, that isn’t going to happen, because he’s a fucking fool.
But does that mean because he won’t be with her, I can? Wouldn’t that be a big fuck you to the bro code?
It’s wrong, I know it is, and if I was to try and do anything with Lilly, Toby would kill me.
But I can’t just shut my feelings off for her again. Believe me, I have tried but the moment she texts me, or I see her, my heartbeat rises, and my belly swoops. It’s thrilling and exciting but also terrifying.
I’m not going to do anything right now, I don’t even know if Lilly sees me as anything more than a friend. But I will keep hanging out with her, growing our bond while hoping it will change into something more.
Maybe I’m setting myself up for disaster, or maybe, just maybe, I could get the girl of my dreams out of it. I do know that if I don’t try, I’m going to regret it. I’ll deal with Toby when the time comes. Do I feel like shit for possibly betraying my best friend? Yes. But he’s made it clear he won’t make a move on his feelings, so wouldn’t he rather she be with someone who would treat her well, someone he trusted?
I could be playing stupid but let me, just for now.
Looking down at my phone, I check the time. She should be here in five minutes. Why does it feel like a lifetime?
