i

ughts. But the moment I walked through the door I heard multiple, loud voices coming from t

ould behind me, but not quite enough. Michael, my brother,

ay without saying h

hy do I have to say

tle taller than Michael who was already six feet so that was saying something. Colby's pie

ll the way upstairs withou

. He was the same height as my brother with

going to snub us w

No, but it'

say hello to Lia before she d

, I hurried aro

y brothe

ng the r

y did I have to deal with this right now? Those four friends of my brother were the bane of

uilt character. How

tairs and to the safety of my room! There was a sturdy lock on it, but

I hated what might await me out there. It would be more

I could hear anything. It was very quiet out there, which was conce

or, only to walk right into it and bounce off a solid wall of muscle. A cry escaped

see you a

I realized how close Matt's face was. He had a decent amount of s

fell forward, tickling my cheek. I could fee

e. Will you le

on your ass," he teased. "Next time I won't

yet was Jesse and out of all my brother's friends, he was the quietest. Sometimes when he looked at me

ooked around, trying to see if anyone was around or coming up behind m

me and go back to whatever they were do

ther solid wall of muscle, this one positioned right in front of my doo

ere you'r

s. His shaggy blonde hair had fallen forward, obscuring some of his gaze. He flicke

in front of my

hello. Would you have said

me. It was like he was drawin

to get int

y to move me. I'd love

I do? I was barely 5'4 and there was no m

esse," I

"See was th

Have a good day, Lia. Maybe you'll be gracious e

ce!" I sh

have to tease and bother me so much? When I was younger I would follow them ar

an to put as much distance a

*

ut. I had been venting to Simone for the past hour. She

do without a friend

you surviving the

ccidentally" spilled

olby. What are the

of microwave popcorn. Matt's laughing at all of

wha

ldn't the bicycle sta

o...

t was two-

so do

Jesse, that joke was almost as b

u say someth

playlist was so bad even S

at did h

"Good one, Lia," like I was a li

ic Ma

g. They get quiet like this when they

you think the

enly stop respondi

ays

just came in and h

k. You'l

all that. You know h

y attention to! Did my brother expect me to just forgive him at the drop of a

ied me. Either he would say it was all whol

expect that from a bu

Come down if you want some or stay here and sulk for a

, Rain, Matt, or Jesse. A shiver of fear ran through me. I wouldn't be

me stuck with them until one of u

was silly to think I would

illing my stomach and eve