Brother’s Best Friends Are My Mates novel Chapter 28

Lia

I was having to grapple with the fact right now that I was starting to fall for my mates. It wasn’t something I wanted to happen, but it was happening. For weeks now we had been living together and they had been acting on their best behavior. All of them were trying their best to get me to warm up to them.

The rain was funny, constantly making me laugh. Colby made me feel grounded, and always willing to have good

conversations with me. Meanwhile, Jesse made me feel safe as if I could tell him anything. Then there was Matt who had the hardest time with it.

He and I were more alike than I realized. The two of us had deep conversations with Matt actively responding whereas Jesse preferred to listen. There was a balance between all of them and now I see why they were such good friends.

It didn’t help that the other day I had gone ahead and started a fight. While we were wolves, it wasn’t encouraged for us to get into fights while on the school grounds. If there were any serious injuries then they face charges of some kind or get sued.

I was lucky that I hadn’t faced any major consequences. It sucked that I was going to have to finish school online, but the more I thought about it the more I realized it was probably good if I was staying home.

The school was almost over! At least this way I didn’t have to see my classmates.

To think, I would be graduating soon. I was excited to get to college. Just as I was getting there, the four guys would be graduating themselves. They were likely to go on the state rugby team or other rugby teams around the area.

For a moment, I feared that they might end up leaving out of state, but there was little chance of that happening. We were going to be a pack. No one was going to ruin this or try to break us up. I smiled to myself, feeling a warmth overtake me.

They were going to be my family. Michael would always be my family as well, but this was me forging ahead and making a pack of my own. You know, provided we did create our pack. I might even end up going ahead and joining one of the other guy’s packs.

But then the nervousness would kick in and a part of me was horrified at this change of thinking.

What the hell was going on with me?

Well, that wasn’t completely true. I think I knew what was going on with me. It was my growing feelings for these four who were my mates. I was grateful I had come to accept that this was my future, but it was jarring when I thought of how my mindset was back when this started.

“Hey Lia, we’re trying to figure out what to eat!” Rain shouted through my closed door, forcing me out of my thoughts. “Do you have anything in mind?”

“I think I’d like some pizza.”

He laughed. “Good, I was hoping that you would go to get some pizza. Come down and we’ll figure out what to order.” “All right, I’ll be down there soon.”

I didn’t want to keep them waiting. A group of hungry alphas were not going to be the easiest to get along with. But I was also pretty hungry myself, having skipped lunch so I could finish as much work as I needed to.

Was I working too hard? Probably, but graduation was around the corner! I wanted to make sure I graduated with a good final report card. It was going to look good at the college. Sure, I already applied but I was a perfectionist in that sense.

“Lia, hurry! Rain is looking like he wants to eat the cardboard,” Colby shouted from downstairs.

I sighed and shook my head. “I’ll be right there!”

***

The feelings didn’t go away. They became worse. I kept letting it interrupt my daily life and Simone sat me down when she

was over one day. My mates were off at the college for practice. Their big game was coming up within a week or two, and I was going to be there.

Simone poked me. I jumped.

“What?”

“You dazed out again.”

“I did not daze out.”

Simone rolled her eyes. “Lia, are you seriously going to deny zoning out? You’ve been doing that all day!”

I wanted to deny it but I couldn’t because she was right. This was exactly what I was doing.

“Fine, I’ve been zoning out.”

She grinned. I knew she was going to ask me about it now and wanted to know what was going on with me. It was important for me to tell her. For one, she was my best friend, and two, I was also needing to get it off my chest and say it out loud.

“Okay, spill it,” Simone said, flopping onto my bed. “You’ve been zoning out like a lovesick pup all day.”

“I’m not lovesick,” I shot back, crossing my arms.

“Right.” She smirked. “So, what’s been on your mind? Chemistry? Trigonometry? Be serious, Lia.”

“Lia, you’re allowed to take your time with this,” Simone said, her voice softening. “But maybe just maybe you could let yourself enjoy it a little. Let them show you how much they care.”

I sighed. “I’ll think about it. But if they drive me crazy, I’m calling you to come save me.”

“Deal,” she said, grinning. “Although, I’ll probably show up just to laugh at you falling head over heels for Rain’s smile or Matt’s jokes.”

“You’re the worst.”

“And yet, you keep me around.”

Simone went home just before the guys came home. I was lying there, staring out my window and watching the raindrops splatter against the cool glass.

The fear was gone. I realized that a while ago, but it was difficult for me to admit. I got up and sat on the chair right in front of the window, just allowing myself to enjoy the sight of the rain.

Some people might hate the rain, but I loved it. It was relaxing to listen to the pitter-patter of the rain, the sound lulling me into a relaxed state. Two cars pulling into the driveway broke me out of my relaxation, a soft sigh of disappointment escaping

me.

The guys were home now. I wasn’t disappointed to have them back, but I was enjoying the peace. It was a change to go from living with my brother full-time to four rowdy rugby players. They were often here, hanging out with my brother but it wasn’t the same as them living here.

“Hey Lia we’re home!” Rain shouted up the stairs before letting out a cry of pain. “Colby, my dude, why did you smack me?” “Do you think she can’t hear us? She probably heard us slam the front door-thanks to Matt.”

Matt huffed. “Oh please. I was just shutting it. Is it my fault the door shuts so loudly?”

“Hey, can we focus on the fact that I am in pain right now?” Rain pleaded.

I sat there, ready to break out into a fit of laughter. They could be so ridiculous at times, but I realized I had adjusted to living with them more than I thought I had!

“She’s likely laughing at us right now,” Jesse said simply. “I would to if I was capable of laughter.”

Rain whimpered. “I don’t want to hear you laugh, Jesse. If your smiling is scary then your laughter is going to be worse!”