Page 73 of A Game Of Choice

I enjoy spending time with Lilly. The past two years have sucked because of her rift with Toby, and it put a strain on our friendship. We used to hang out all the time, then it was hardly ever.

I’d come with Toby for suppers, but it got awkward with the tension between him and Lilly. I wanted to hang out with her, but I didn’t want to ditch my friend, so I just stopped going.

When she asked me to come today, I couldn’t say yes fast enough. I knew Toby wasn’t going to be here, he told me about the thing with his grandad the day before so that meant time with just Lilly.

Now that I think about it, I don’t think I’ve ever had time with just her. Toby always took up her spare time, and while it never bothered me then, I’m glad it’s not the case now.

Toby wanted me to try and use up her free time now so that she doesn’t have time to date. And yes, I did agree to it, but a part of me did it for myself. This is my chance to get our closeness back and to have that time with Lilly I never got growing up.

She’s different. I’ve noticed she’s not exactly the same Lilly that she was when I started SVU. Of course, she’s not; she’s grown since then. She’s an adult now.

She was always a bubbly little thing, a bright smile and musical laugh. Now she's got a bit of a sassy side to her. She’s still the caring, loving person she’s always been, but she's not as... naïve as she used to be. Not saying she was gullible or anything, but I saw the way she looked at Toby. I knew in her mind that she really did think something would become more between the two of them.

When Toby left and distanced himself from her, he crushed that hope right out of her. I knew what she was going to do at that party the summer night after high school, or at least, I had my suspicions.

It’s why I felt like I should try to stop her. I saw Toby go off with that girl, or rather she followed him, but still, when the girl didn’t come back after a few minutes, I assumed something more was happening.

My thoughts were confirmed when Lilly followed after them and came back crying.

It killed me to see her like that. All I wanted to do in that moment was take her face in my hands, look her deep in her eyes, and tell her to give up on Toby and give me a chance instead. To let me be the one who owns her heart and to promise her that I’d never hurt it.

But I didn’t. Because even though my best friend was off doing whatever with that girl, I knew he still loved her.

I understand why Toby thinks he can’t be with her, but I don’t agree with it.

I also don’t think it’s fair that because he won’t claim her, no one else can. It’s not fair to Lilly. It’s pretty selfish of him to want that.

The sound of the diving board snaps me out of the past. I look just in time to see Lilly dive into the water.

She glides under the surface like a damn mermaid and makes it all the way to where her feet can touch before she comes up for air.

Is it fucked up of me that I wish her hair was down so she could do one of those sexy water hair flips?

Still doesn’t stop me from eyeing up her tits as water runs down the valley between them. Fucking hell, now I’m getting a boner. Really, what the hell has gotten into me?

“Are you coming in or not?” she asks, raising a brow with a smirk.

I grin and start running toward the pool. Her eyes widen and she tries to get away, but she’s not fast enough. “Cannonball!” I scream before jumping in, making a big splash.

“Asshole!” she shouts as I break the surface.

“Oh, come on, il mio cuore, don’t be a big baby.” I laugh and slap the water, sending a big wave of it at her.

She gasps, closing her eyes, gaping at me. “Oh, you're going to get it!” she screams before launching herself at me. I laugh harder and when she gets right in front of me, I grab her by the waist and pick her up, tossing her a few feet in the air, making her splash back into the pool.

I’m full-on belly laughing when she comes back up with pure murder in her eyes. “You're dead.”

“Oh, I’m so scared. Please, little munchkin, don’t hurt me.”

“Fucking jocks with your crazy strength and big arms,” she mutters.

“You like my big arms?” I grin, raising one up to flex. “Made them myself.” I kiss my muscles.

“You're such a dork.” She giggles, and fuck, I like the sound of it.

“Yeah, but you love me anyways.” I shoot her a wink.

“Someone has to.” She grins back.