Brother’s Best Friends Are My Mates novel Chapter 189

Colby

Everyone was doing their own thing to bond with Lia. I decided that I was just going to cook dinner for the whole group, and then I would sneak her some dessert. Great for us to have a private dessert. Something chocolatey, maybe. She always smiled more with chocolate.

“I’m making dinner tonight,” I announced, tossing my keys into the dish by the door and heading straight for the kitchen. Rain popped his head around the comer, eyes lighting up. “Ooh! Need a sous chef?”

I didn’t even hesitate. “Not.” “What?!”

Rain gasped like I’d just insulted his entire bloodline. “Banned?! That’s so harsh!”

I had to stifle a chuckle even though he was just being his usual self. That was Rain for you. But he would be fine after a while. He just had to get over his little pouting session.

Lia appeared behind him, crossing her arms. “Rain, last time you helped, the smoke alarm had to be reset twice.” “That was an accident!” Rain argued. “The stove was faulty!”

“No,” Matt said from the couch without looking up from his book, “you’re faulty.” Rain whirled around him. “Rude!”

“Accurate,” Jesse added from the hallway.

Rain threw his arms in the air. “You guys are so dramatic. It was one tiny fire.”

“One fire,” I repeated, opening the fridge. “One pan. One dish towel. And a melted spatula.” “That spatula was already halfway melted!” Rain shot back.

Lia raised her eyebrows. “It was brand new.”

Rain pouted, crossing his arms and slumping against the wall. “I feel attacked.” “You are,” Jesse deadpanned.

I grinned, pulling ingredients from the fridge. “This is a no-rain zone for the next hour. Go brood somewhere else.” He pointed two fingers at his eyes, then at me. “I’m watching you.”

“You can watch me all you want from the other side of the house.”

Lia came over and kissed his cheek, clearly amused. “You can help with the dishes after. That’s safer.”

Rain sighed. “Fine. But if this meal is terrible, I reserve the right to dramatically collapse and complain for hours.” “Deal,” I said, already chopping vegetables. “But it won’t be. I’m good at this.”

Matt walked by and clapped me on the shoulder. “Thank you for sparing the kitchen.” “You’re welcome,” I said, glancing toward Rain, who was now sulking on the couch. “Rain?” I called.

“What?” he mumbled.

“Don’t even look at the oven.” “Ugh. I hate all of you.”

“We love you, too,” Lia called sweetly.

Rain flopped onto his side with a dramatic groan. “Tell my tragic tale, won’t you?”

Jesse snorted. “Only if you stop narrating your suffering like it’s a Shakespearean monologue.” “Never,” Rain declared, one hand on his forehead. “This is my art.”

And honestly? This was kind of perfect.

Rain flopped onto his side with a dramatic groan. “Tell my tragic tale, won’t you?”

Jesse snorted. “Only if you stop narrating your suffering like it’s a Shakespearean monologue.” “Never,” Rain declared, one hand on his forehead. “This is my art.”

Matt didn’t even glance up from his book “You said that last week after losing a board game.” “That was betrayal,” Rain said, sitting up with a glare. “You all ganged upon me.”

“We didn’t gang up,” Lia said, leaning against the counter. “You just insulted everyone’s strategy within the first five minutes.”

“Because it was a bad strategy!” “Still lost,” Jesse muttered.

Rain gasped. “You wound me.”

“Not yet,” I said, tossing chopped onions into the pan. “But if you keep talking, I might let you peel the garlic.”

The kitchen smelled amazing by the time I turned off the stove. I wiped my hands on a towel and called out, “Dinner’s ready!” Rain immediately popped up like he’d been waiting on cue. “Finally. I’m wasting away over here.”

“You had snacks like ten minutes ago,” Matt said, not even looking up.

Rain slowly stood, hands dramatically braced on his lower back. “Alright, fine. I will now nobly fulfill my destiny and do the dishes.”

“You don’t have to narrate it like you’re going to war,” I said, stacking some plates.

Rain took one from me with exaggerated solemnity. “Every great hero needs a soundtrack.” Matt raised an eyebrow. “Please don’t sing again.”

Rain placed a hand over his heart. “You wound me. My voice is a gift.” “It’s a curse,” Jesse muttered.

Lia bumped Rain with her hip, smirking. “If you do the dishes without breaking anything, we’ll consider calling it a gift.” Rain gave her a scandalized look. “The betrayal in this household runs deep.”

“Less betrayal, more rinsing,” I said, nudging him toward the sink

And with Rain dramatically humming some made-up theme song under his breath, we fell into the easy rhythm of clearing up together-laughing, teasing, and just… being us.

It was loud. A little chaotic. But also kind of perfect.

Later, Lia and I shared some lava cake that I had made. I went so far as to feed her, and she was blushing, a little embarrassed, but I liked that we were engaging in this behavior. It was great.

At one point, Lia’s tongue did brush over my finger, and I growled softly.

“I almost get the feeling that you did that on purpose,” I accused, giving her a look”

She let out a soft giggle. “Why do you think I did it on purpose. I would never do something like that on purpose. I’m a completely innocent woman.”

“Likely story,” I said, giving her a look.

But I was just teasing her. I laughed, pulling her in for a kiss.

It was nice to be able to spend some one-on-one time with Lia. She and I hadn’t spent much time together without the rest of the guys or even the whole pack around, not that it mattered. I enjoyed spending time with everyone, but it was nice to just spend some time with my mate.

But This was what happened when you shared one mate with three other guys. Thank god I shared Lia with the rest of my friends because I think jealousy would’ve driven me insane had I not done that.