Accidentally in Love with the Best Friend

j.u.s.t.i.n.’.s....p.o.v.

I sat in the lounge chair as I glanced at the clock. 6:52. I sighed, knowing that Harper would appear at any moment, and Seth was bouncing off the walls in excitement. He wasn’t too happy with my move to kiss Casey today, but it was the first thing I thought of doing so that I didn’t attack Toby for keeping his arm around my girl.

I watched as my mate entered the building, her soft smile lighting up her angelic face as she asked for her coffee before her eyes met mine. The smile slowly turned lopsided and she bit her lip, making her look irresistible. Ugh, I really needed to pull myself together. Seth wanted to keep admiring her, but I could tell it was making her slightly uncomfortable.

So, to try to ease the tension, I did the first thing that came to mind. “Hey.”

“Hi.”

“Thanks for meeting me here.”

“Yeah,” she said, taking a quick sip of her coffee before turning to me. “So why did you really want me to come here?”

“Excuse me?” Oh gosh, it was times like this that I really wish she could feel what I had to through every single day. Her intoxicating scent washed over me, and her gaze alone made my knees feel weak.

Harper, however, looked completely unaffected as she stood in front of me, her arms crossed. “C’mon, don’t play dumb with me. Why did you bring me here but not your girlfriend?”

The way she said girlfriend with the glint in her eye told me that she was jealous. This only added to Seth’s pride, who wouldn’t stop chanting about how she felt something for us.

“Are you jealous, Harp?” I asked smirking. “Do you want to be my girlfriend instead?”

Her cheeks began to burn with a blush as she shook her head, trying to pull herself together. “No! Not whatsoever! But that isn’t even the point!”

“I can’t stand her...”

“What?” Harper looked surprised, her recent embarrassment history.

“Casey - you know, my girlfriend - I can’t stand her. And I just wanted to spend quality time with you.”

A small, genuine smile spread across her face. “Okay. That actually sounds like fun.”

And it was fun. We were able to catch up and talk like old times. I hadn’t realized how much I had missed being able to just talk. Although, this time, towards the end the conversation became a little strained.

“Harp?”

“What?” She looked up at me with big, innocent eyes.

“Harp, we have grown up together. I know when something is off. And something is definitely wrong.”

My beautiful mate sighed. “I guess I just can’t wrap my mind around why you hate Toby so much.”

Of course, just when things were going good, it all ended back with him. I forced Seth down so a growl didn’t escape, but I knew Harper got a glimpse of my livid expression.

“We get along so well as friends, why can’t we just stay that way?” Even though to Harp those words were reassuring, it was like a stab to my heart, because I wanted us to be more than friends. So much more than friends.

But for her, I plastered a smile I hoped would encase all my feelings as I forced the words out of my mouth. “Sure. Just friends, like the good old days.”

After the awkward tension got so thick you could literally cut through it with a knife, Harper stood up, collecting her belongings from the chair beside me. “Um... well, I guess I should be going. After all, I have to get up early tomorrow.”

“Of course, you just have to have some quality boyfriend time, don’t you?” I hadn’t meant for my sarcastic tone to be so harsh, but I couldn’t help it.

She shook her head, disappointment flooding her features. “I just don’t get why you have to act like my older brother all the time. Honestly, I’m kind of getting sick of it.”

Of course, all she saw me as was her older brother. Not a friend who felt something more.

This time, though, she was the one who left me sitting there dumbfounded. And let me just tell you, it felt like crap.

By the time I got back home, the sun was ready beginning to set. I entered the pack house, only to be greeted by concerned pack members.

“Justin, where were you?” My father, the current alpha, appeared in front of me, concerned.

I groaned. “Dad, do I have to really let you know where I am every second of the day?”

“I’ve just been worried about you. The pack has been worried about you. Maybe...maybe it is time for you to inform your mate who you are.”

“Speaking of my mate, that was who I was with tonight.”

“And...?”

“She thinks of me as an older brother.” My words came out in a whisper as Seth whined internally. Just saying it out loud sounded pathetic.

“Justin,” my father’s tone became serious in an instant. “I’m not getting any younger out here. You are scheduled to take the alpha role in the next few weeks, with a Luna, whether it’s your mate or not.”

I ran a hand through my hair, knowing he was right. “I’ll figure out something. I’ll tell her the truth some way. After all, I have two weeks.”

“But don’t forget those two weeks are going to be filled with paperwork and extra training to prepare you for the position.”

Ah, the joys of becoming an alpha. Even though I would be busy with meetings and such until the ceremony, I wouldn’t give up on my mate.

I couldn’t, not when she was so close.

So close yet so far.