Page 59 of Stuck with my Brother's Firefighter Besties

But even as I made the decision, I knew it wasn’t going to be easy.

I wasn’t the kind of guy to obsess over someone. I didn’t let people under my skin like this. But Lila? She’d gotten there anyway, with her sharp wit and those damn hazel eyes that made it impossible to look away.

I exhaled sharply, running a hand through my hair.

By the time we pulled into Medford, I’d worked out my plan. Simple. Keep it friendly, keep it light, and above all,keep my hands off of her.

I didn’t know how the hell I was going to manage it, but I had to try.

For Nate. For the guys.

And for my own damn sanity.

* * *

The air was cold, crisp enough to burn with each inhale as I took an evening run with Nate, but it helped clear my head.

Or at least it was supposed to.

We ran side by side down the empty streets of Medford, our breaths puffing in clouds of white against the dark sky. Nate was quiet at first, which I didn’t mind. I wasn’t exactly in the mood to talk either.

But, of course, it didn’t last.

“So,” Nate started, his voice breaking through the rhythm of our footfalls. “You notice anything… off with Lila?”

I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye, trying to keep my expression neutral. “What do you mean?”

He frowned, his gaze fixed ahead. “I don’t know. She’s just been… quiet. She barely said two words when I stopped by Dad’s place earlier. She’s usually all sarcasm and attitude, but now…” He shook his head. “Something’s bothering her. I can tell.”

I swallowed hard, keeping my eyes on the pavement.

“She’s been through a lot.” I chose my words carefully. “Maybe she just needs some time to adjust.”

Nate let out a low grunt. “Maybe. But it’s not just that. It’s like she’s pulling back from everyone, even me.” He slowed his pace slightly, running a hand over his face. “I’m her brother, Jax. I’m supposed to help her. Protect her. And I can’t do that if I don’t know what’s going on.”

The guilt hit me like a freight train.

Because I did know what was going on.

At least part of it.

Lila wasn’t just pulling back from Nate. She was pulling back from me, from all of us. And why wouldn’t she? Things had gotten messy, fast.

Too much had happened in such a short amount of time, and now she was probably trying to figure out how to navigate it all.

And here was Nate, completely in the dark, trusting me to have his back.

“You’re a good brother, Nate,” I said, my voice tight. “She’s lucky to have you.”

He shot me a sidelong glance. “Yeah, well, doesn’t feel like I’m doing much good right now.”

I forced a nod, biting back the words I wanted to say.

Maybe if I weren’t so busy complicating her life, she wouldn’t be pulling back at all.

I felt like shit.

The guilt was damn near overwhelming.

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