Brother’s Best Friends Are My Mates novel Chapter 87

Lia

I groaned, throwing my head back against the couch. “I swear, if one more of them tries to fluff my pillows or bring me soup, I’m going to scream.”

Simone snorted. “Oh no. Not soup. The horror.”

“I’m serious. They’re driving me nuts. I love them, but they’ve cranked the overprotectiveness to suffocating levels. I can’t even go to the bathroom without one of them hovering outside like I’m going to keel over mid-walk.”

“To be fair, you did almost die.”

“Details.” I waved a hand. Then, after a beat, I straightened. “You have to get me out of here.”

Simone blinked. “What?”

“Smuggle me out. Through the window. Just for an hour. I need space.”

She burst out laughing. “Not.”

“Come on! I am being held hostage by my mates!”

“And you think I want to be an accomplice in your inevitable downfall? Yeah, no. I like living, thanks.”

“Coward.”

“Survivor,” she corrected. “Besides, let’s be read, you honestly think you’d make it five steps before one of them sensed you were gone and came running?”

I groaned. “No. They probably have some creepy sixth sense attuned to me at all times.”

“Exactly. So, instead of scheming an escape plan that will get you caught in under a minute, how about we pick something to watch?”

I sighed. “Fine. But if one of them brings me another blanket, I’m setting it on fire.”

I huffed, crossing my arms. “You could at least try. Maybe create a diversion. Start a small fire. Fake a fainting spell. Something.”

Simone grinned. “Oh, sure. Let me just set myself on fire real quick. That’ll work out great for both of us.”

“You’re being dramatic.”

“No, you’re being delusional if you think I’m getting involved in this. Do you know what would happen if your mates caught me sneaking you out? I’d never be allowed back in this house. I am not losing my best friend privileges because you have cabin fever.”

I let out a long, suffering sigh. “You’re the worst.”

“Correction-I am the only reason you haven’t completely lost your mind. Now, stop pouting and embrace your fate. You are stuck here, surrounded by love and devotion. The horror.”

“You don’t get it.” I turned to her, pleading. “It’s non-stop, Simone. They take shifts watching me. They won’t even let me walk to the kitchen alone. Colby carries me up the stairs like I’m some frail Victorian woman about to perish from a mild breeze.”

Simone burst out laughing. “Okay, that’s hilarious. And very on-brand for Colby.”

“It’s not funny!” I threw a pillow at her, but she dodged it easily. “Rain keeps checking my temperature like I’m secretly dying. Matt has become my chef. And don’t even get me started on how Jesse and Jesse have turned into my bodyguards. He just stands there, arms crossed, glaring at nothing, like danger will materialize in my living room.”

Simone wiped away tears from laughing. “That’s love, babe.”

“That’s suffocation.”

She leaned back, looking entirely too comfortable. “Well, you should’ve thought about that before you went and got yourself almost killed. Actions have consequences, you know.”

I groaned, dragging a hand down my face. “I need air, Simone.”

“You have a window.”

“AIR, Simone. The kind that doesn’t come with constant supervision.”

She smirked. “Too bad. You’re under lockdown. And honestly? It’s kind of nice seeing them fuss over you. You deserve it.”

I grumbled, sinking deeper into the couch. “I hate this.”

“No, you don’t. You love them, and deep down, you love that they’re taking care of you.”

I glared at her. “That is slander.”

“That is the truth,” she shot back. “Now, stop fighting it. Let them dote on you. Milk it for all it’s worth. If they want to fluff your pillows and bring you food, let them. You’ll miss it when they stop.”

I scoffed. “Doubtful,”

It’s safe to say after that, all of us started to act overprotective. We weren’t letting her out of our sight, not wanting her to get hurt. I know I promised we wouldn’t get out of control like this but the four of us had no other choice with the stunt she pulled.

Now she was healing. I could see Lia was frustrated with sitting in bed so long but the doctor ordered that she had to take it easy.

One time I entered the room, bringing her some food, I noticed she was looking out the window longingly.

“Lia,” I called out.

She looked at me, a pout forming on her lips. It reminded me a bit of Rain, though he had perfected the pout. Lia still had some ways to go.

“I want to go outside.”

“You can go outside,” I said to her, smirking. “But you’ll have to let me carry your bridal style.”

Lia looked away, her scowl deepening. “I’d rather you throw me over your shoulder like a sack of potatoes just like Jesse did the other day.”

“I could do that but it would jostle your wounds, which will lead to you spending more time in your bed. Is that truly what you want?” I pointed out, giving her a look.

She sunk back down into the covers, the scowl on her face deepening.

“I hate this.”

“Lia it’s only for a few more days and then you’ll be able to start moving around more. Hell, you’ll be able to go back to school.”

Doing work online wasn’t easy for everyone. I am sure Lia was doing good. She was never one to let this bother her.

Our professional lives were a bit of a mess right now. We weren’t giving the team as much dedication as we could but everything had been so crazy it just kept slipping our mind.

“Fine, I want to go out. Pick me up,” Lia demanded, causing me to grin.

I scooped her up effortlessly in my arms, enjoying the way she clung to me. She always seemed afraid that we were going to drop her but there was no chance of that ever happening.