Brother’s Best Friends Are My Mates novel Chapter 17

Michael

I logged into the group chat, ready to say my peace. It was time to get it out there. The guys had a right to know what I was doing. There were going to be some pushbacks but so be it.

This wasn’t even unexpected! I had been wanting to live with my mate for a while now. She was finally done with school so it made sense for the two of us to take the next step. Then we could make our bond official and become actual mates, registered with the state and everything.

Michael: Hey everyone, just wanted to let you know I’m officially moving out next week.

Rain: Wait, what? Moving out?

Colby: Is this like a short trip, or are we talking permanently moving out?

Michael: Permanent. I’m going to live with my mate full-time now. It’s time.

Matt: …You’re serious?

Jesse: Man, are you sure about this?

Michael: Yes, 100%. You are all here for Lia now, so she’s set. You’ll handle things fine.

Rain: I mean, we are here for Lia, but this was kind of sudden.

Matt: You’ve been the buffer, man. Lia’s family. Your part of what makes this whole thing work.

Colby: Yes, no offense, but do you think everything’s going to be fine?

Michael: What are you talking about? You’re all her mates. You’ve got it covered.

Jesse: Bro. We’re still figuring out how to live together. There’s… dynamics.

Colby: And clashes. Rain and I argued about whose turn it was to do the dishes yesterday.

Rain: You started that!

Colby: Because you didn’t do them the day before!

Matt: Case in point.

Michael: You guys will figure it out. This is how packs work, right?

Jesse: Sure. Eventually. But, like… you’ve been the glue, Mike. You’re family to Lia and sort of the stabilizer for us.

Michael: I’m not your babysitter.

Rain: No, but you are the guy who helps Lia breathe when things get overwhelming.

Colby: Not to mention you’re the one who knows how to de-escalate when Matt gets into his hyper-focus mode and starts bossing us all around.

Matt: Excuse me?

Colby: Tell me I’m wrong.

Matt: … Okay, fine.

Jesse: Look, we’re not saying don’t move in with your mate. We get it. But maybe give us a little more time to get steady?

Michael: I get where you’re coming from, but no. This is what Lia wanted, too. She needs to build this life with you, and you need to step up for her.

Rain: …So, you’re going?

Michael: Yes. You’ve got this. Trust me. And if anything, serious comes up, you know where to find me.

Colby: No pressure or anything.

Jesse: Well, guess it’s time to level up.

Matt: I don’t like this, but we’ll make it work. For Lia.

Michael: That’s the spirit. You’re a pack. You’ll figure it out.

Rain: You had better visit.

Michael: Obviously. Just don’t burn the place down in the meantime.

Colby: No promises. Rain loves to set things on fire.

Rain: Hey, I don’t like to set things on fire. What I do is accidentally set things on fire because I have bad luck.

Michael: Guys I’m not going to stay so have you accepted it?

Matt: I guess so. But what about Lia?

Michael: I haven’t told her yet.

Rain: Michael, my man, you haven’t told your sister yet. God, you are screwed.

Michael: Thanks, Rain.

I listened to her storm up the stairs, her door slamming shut loud enough to rattle the things on the walls.

Shit. That went a lot worse than I wanted it to go.

***

Lia

My body was shaking, the rage overtaking me. I grabbed my phone to text Simone because I had to tell her what happened.

I can’t believe this, Simone. Michael’s moving out! How could you let this happen?! -L

What am I supposed to do, Lia? Chain him to the house. He’s got his own life to live. -S

His own life?! Do you even realize what this means for me? I’ll be stuck here ALONE with FOUR FUTURE MATES breathing down my neck! -L

Oh, come on. You’re acting like it’s the end of the world. You’ll survive. -S

Survive? SURVIVE?! Michael was the only one keeping them in check! And now you’re just letting him leave like it’s no big deal? -L

You’re being overdramatic. This isn’t about Michael leaving. You’re upset because he’s not around to act as your buffer anymore. -S

Excuse me?! I am NOT using my brother as a buffer! -L

Really? Because it sure seems like you’ve been hiding behind him instead of dealing with your “future mates” yourself. -S That’s not fair, Simone! He’s my BROTHER. He’s supposed to protect me! You wouldn’t understand. -L

No, Lia. What I understand is that you’ve been relying on him to avoid responsibility. Maybe it’s time you stepped up and handled your problems. -S

You’re unbelievable. This isn’t about responsibility! It’s about losing the only person I could trust in this insane situation! -L

If you trusted him so much, maybe you should trust his decision to leave. He wouldn’t do it if he thought you couldn’t handle it. -S

I hate this. And I hate you for being so cold about it. -L

I’m sorry… but you know I’m just going to tell you like it is. It doesn’t mean I won’t listen to your rant. – S

Yeah, I know. – L

I had enough people. With a tired sigh, I threw my phone onto the nightstand next to my bed and lay on my bed. This sucked. No, this more than sucked. How was I going to deal with this?

My brother was abandoning me. That much I was sure of. It killed me to say that but that was what he was doing. I couldn’t imagine living here with my four future mates. Yes, I was using him as a buffer, something I readily admitted to but it was the only way I knew how to get through this.