Brother’s Best Friends Are My Mates novel Chapter 37

Rain

I can’t believe I’m graduating today.

How can that even be possible? It doesn’t seem possible. Something is wrong with me because I’m not as excited as I thought I would be. I’m more nervous, wondering what the hell I’m going to do with my life.

None of us had gotten any responses from the scouts. I knew something like this could take time, but it didn’t help my anxiety.

What if I didn’t get on any team? Rugby was all I knew. Matt liked to keep pointing out that we had our backup plans but I wanted to respond that I didn’t want my backup plan. I wanted my first choice!

It was immature of me to think this so I didn’t say anything.

I should be focused on graduation, on this next phase of my life. Look at Lia who had graduated and was thrilled with starting college soon.

Speaking of college, the thought of her being there with all those alphas was enough to make me growl with frustration. I didn’t want to think of her on campus with older alphas but what was I going to do? Prevent her from going to school? That would be the move of a psycho alpha and I was not a crazed alpha.

I had tried to cultivate the image of the easygoing and considerate alpha.

Wait, that made it sound like it was a façade! It wasn’t a façade, I swear. I just tried hard to make sure I showed that side of me. Especially to Lia after everything we had done to her with the bullying and teasing.

A crack of thunder had me jumping out of my skin. Here I was, a fully grown alpha and I was still terrified of thunder.

The rain was splattering against the glass, making me wish the storm would just come and go already. I didn’t want to deal with a storm and wanted to sleep. Colby, my roommate, could sleep through anything. So could I expect storms?

I hated storms.

My phone buzzed, Colby’s name flashing across the screen. He was out right now with Matt getting groceries. I read his post and sighed.

Graduation’s next week! Who’s ready to party? – C

Not sure “ready” is the word I’d use. – R

Come on, it’s just walking across a stage and shaking hands. – M

You don’t have parents who’ll burst into tears the second they call your name. What if I take a trip? Or sneeze into the mic? Or worse-what if I forget to say “thank you” when they hand me the diploma? – R

It’s not a battle strategy. You’re just graduating. Calm down. – J

Rain, you’ll be fine. Besides, if you trip, you’ll make everyone remember your graduation for something unique. – L

Yes, think of it this way: you’d go viral as the guy who faceplanted at graduation. Instant fame. – C

Not helping, Colby. – R

Don’t worry, Rain. If you fall, Jesse will probably catch you before you hit the ground. His reflexes are scary. – M

I’d think about it. Depends on if Rain’s been annoying that day. – J

Great. Thanks, guys. I feel so reassured. – R

Don’t worry, Rain. I’ll be in the front row cheering for all of you. You’re going to do amazing. – L

Aw, see, Rain? Lia’s got your back. – C

Fine. I guess I’ll survive. But if I sneeze into the mic, I’m blaming all of you. – R

It’s not like sneezing into the mic will be the worst thing ever. Remember when Matt slipped on the field? – J

Wow. Way to mention that, Jesse. Thanks for the reminder. – M

You’re welcome. I’m here to keep everyone humble. – J

That was a rough game… but hey, Matt, you still recovered. Rain, even if something goes wrong, you’ll figure it out. You always do. – L

See? Lia gets it. Plus, we’ll all be there. Anything goes sideways, and we’ll make it memorable in an effective way. – C

What, like you running across the stage yelling, “Let’s go” in the middle of the ceremony? – R

Oh, I could do that. – C

Please don’t. We’re already pushing it with the principal after last year’s prank. – M

Yes, don’t ruin it for everyone. I want to enjoy graduation. – J

Fine, fine. I’ll be mostly well-behaved. – C

“Mostly” is the best we’re getting, huh? – L

You know it. – C

Is everyone staying for the after-party? – M

If Rain doesn’t commandeer the playlist again. – J

What’s wrong with my playlist? – R

Do you want me to list the reasons? – J

Lia, please back me up here. My playlist isn’t that bad, right? – R

Uh… I’m staying out of this one. – L

Smart choice. – J

Fine. Whatever. But I’m picking at least one song. Deal? – R

Deal. Just one. – M

“It is huge,” Lia said, stepping closer, her smile warm. “I’m proud of you guys. You worked so hard for this.”

“Thanks, Lia,” Jesse said quietly from the corner.

I jumped, not realizing that Jesse had even left the room. How did he always manage to scare the hell out of me without even doing anything? I think it was a superpower of his or something, but one thing was for sure. It did do a good job of keeping me in line!

Matt nodded. “Yeah, thanks. But Rain, you’re not shouting anything across that stage.”

“Why not?” I groaned, throwing my hands in the air. “What’s the point of excitement if you can’t show it off?”

My friends were always trying to ruin my fun. I was convinced of it.

“Not by embarrassing all of us,” Colby teased, grinning. “We’ll celebrate properly after graduation. Maybe a party.”

“We are throwing a party,” Lia reminded him. “Graduation and this? Double the reason to celebrate.”

“Rain still needs to calm down first,” Jesse said, smirking slightly. “He looks like he’s about to run laps around the house.”

“I might!” I admitted, bouncing on the balls of my feet. “This is too good to keep to myself!”

“If you start screaming outside, the neighbors will call the cops,” Colby warned.

“I’ll tell them I made the team!”

“And you think that’ll help?” Matt asked dryly. “Picture explaining rugby draft excitement to a grumpy cop at midnight.”

Lia’s laugh cut through the room. “Rain, save your energy. You’ll need it to survive tomorrow.”

“You’re right,” I sighed dramatically. “But just so everyone knows, I’m hyped.”

“We noticed,” Jesse deadpanned.

Colby clapped his hands together. “All right, tomorrow after graduation, we’re celebrating. Properly.”

“And no running across the stage,” Matt said, pointing at me.

“Fine,” I grumbled, though the grin refused to leave my face. “But you guys owe me the biggest party ever.”

“You got it,” Lia said with a wink.

I headed back to my room, grumbling to myself.. Tomorrow couldn’t come fast enough. All I wanted was to celebrate with my friends-no my pack. Yes, my pack.

There was a point where I couldn’t imagine leaving my pack but now I was glad we had decided to create our own pack. With Michael, Simone, and their mates we even had a decent amount of numbers! Not that it was the numbers that made the pack.

My mom always said it was more about quality than quantity.