Chapter 16
Matt
My phone started going off way too early. Growling I grabbed it and opened the group chat.
Group Chat: “Team Mission Lia’
6:03 AM
Jesse: You, everyone up? We need to talk.
Matt:…Why is this happening before the sun is fully awake?
Colby: Because it’s important, Matt. Now get over it and focus.
Rain: zzzz…
Jesse: Rain, wake up. This isn’t optional.
Rain: Half-conscious. Proceed.
Matt: This better not be about Lia. It’s too early for emotional trauma.
Jesse: It is about Lia. We can’t ignore this anymore.
Colby: We’ve been a mess around her, and it’s time we get our act together. No more lurking awkwardly or being avoidant.
Rain: Do you mean no more “accidentally” bumping into her to check if she’s still mad?
Jesse: EXACTLY. We’ve been idiots. Years of bullying her didn’t help.
Matt: Didn’t it help? It made her hate us. Deservedly.
Colby: Which is why we need a plan. She’s smart. If we just rush her with apologies, she’ll think we’re trying to manipulate her.
Rain: We kind of were bullies, though. Why wouldn’t she assume that?
Matt: Rain’s right. Trust doesn’t happen overnight.
Jesse: Then we earn it. The step one is acknowledging we’ve hurt her. No excuses, no “we were just kids” garbage.
Colby: We also need to make it clear we’re serious about this. It’s not just about us liking her-it’s about showing her we’re safe now.
Rain: ‘Safe is a stretch. We’re still chaotic,
Matt: Speak for yourself. I’m perfectly stable,
Rain: Says the guy who yelled at a squirrel for stealing his sandwich.
Matt: Irrelevant. Stay on topic.
Jesse: Focus, people. We’re meeting early this morning to hash out the specifics.
Matt: I want to sleep.
1/3
Colby: Your sleep is canceled. This takes priority.
Rain: What even is the plan? Just grovel?
Jesse: We apologize first. Then we start showing her through actions-not just words-that she can rely on us. We’ve got to be consistent.
Colby: Small gestures. Respect her space. Prove we’re different.
Matt: So, no grand romantic declarations? No cornering her with “we’re your fated mates” speeches?
Rain: Not. She’d run for the hills.
Jesse: Exactly. We move slowly. Let her take the lead when she’s ready.
Matt: Fine. But if this goes wrong, I’m blaming Jesse.
Colby: Blame yourself for being a pain all these years.
Rain: Group consensus: Jesse’s fault if it fails.
Jesse: Whatever. Just be up in about an hour. No excuses.
Rain: Cool. Going back to sleep now.
Matt: Same. Don’t wake me up again unless it’s life or death. I need that extra hour.
Colby: Or Lia.
Matt:…Fine.
Jesse: Good. Let’s fix this mess.
Even though I got an extra hour, it didn’t do much. I dragged myself downstairs, grateful that Lia was still fast asleep in her room.
“Why are we up this early?” Rain asked, barely stifling a yawn.
He scratched his neck where some stubble was already starting to form. Rain shaved when he remembered. It could happen every day or the guy could go a full two weeks before starting to complain that the new beard he was sporting was itchy beyond all reason.
“Because Jesse and Colby thought it was best we get up at the ass crack of dawn to discuss what we are going to do from here on our own,” I snapped.
I’d rather be in our room, catching a few more hours of sleep before starting the day. On weekends I liked to get some Rugby practice in. Not like my skills were going to get soft in a day or two without practice, but I liked running across the field, feeling the wind through my braids.
It helped center me and keep my mind at ease. With all the stress I’d been under since finding out my future mate was Lia Brown of all people, I started to throw myself into practice. This was the only time I was able to feel at ease. Other times I just became stressed out, letting my mind wander and wonder about what all of this was going to mean for me.
I didn’t care about sharing someone with three of my best friends. If anything, it helped me feel more at ease.
Why did it have to be her of all people? It could’ve been anyone else. Hell, I would’ve been able to deal with it being her loud and a little bit crazy best
friend Simone. But Lia?
