Alyssa's PoV:

The warmth of the sun was the perfect complement to the sense of freedom and celebration that hung in the air after the graduation ceremony. After congratulating Mason, I made my way to find my brother. Spotting Aiden amidst the crowd, I ran up to him, throwing my arms around him in a big hug. "I'm so proud of you!" I said, deliberately messing up his perfectly styled hair.

"Ugh, Alyssa!" he groaned, trying to dodge me but failing miserably. He rolled his eyes as he tried to smooth his hair back into place. "Can you not?"

"Never," I teased, sticking my tongue out at him.

Luke, Jaden, and Cameron were nearby, exchanging plans for the last day of high school and the start of their new chapter as university students. "Beach day," Luke declared. "It's gotta be the beach. One last hurrah before we're all scattered across different campuses."

"Agreed," Cameron said, his usual playful smirk firmly in place. "But we're staying until sunset. None of this half-day nonsense."

With the plan set, the group grew as Mason, Amy, James, Selena, and Nate all agreed to come along. Emily, however, hesitated when I invited her. "Regina's not coming," I assured her, but she still seemed reluctant.

"I'll go," she finally said, her voice lacking its usual enthusiasm.

The beach was just as picturesque as ever, with its golden sands and rolling waves. The group spread out quickly, laying down towels, setting up umbrellas, and staking out the best spots. The salty breeze carried laughter and conversation, but my eyes kept drifting to Aiden. He was trying to keep up appearances, joking with Jaden and Cameron, but there was a heaviness to him that even the sunshine couldn't chase away.

I hoped time would heal whatever was gnawing at him.

Meanwhile, Cameron was making a valiant effort to woo Selena, leaning in closer as they talked, his smile widening every time she laughed. She seemed amused, if not entirely convinced, and I couldn't help but root for him.

Mason and I found a spot near the edge of the group, curling up together as the waves lapped against the shore. It was peaceful, the kind of moment that made all the chaos of the last year feel worth it. That is, until Luke decided to disrupt our little haven.

He plopped down in the sand beside us, looking slightly flustered. "So...about Nate," he began, clearly uncomfortable.

I raised an eyebrow. "What about Nate?"

"Nothing. I mean—nothing like that," he said quickly, but his hesitation told a different story.

Mason chuckled, leaning back on his elbows. "Man, you're not fooling anyone. Just say it."

Luke groaned, running a hand through his hair. "Fine. Maybe—I don't know—maybe I'm starting to like him. But it's weird, okay? I've never liked a guy before. I don't even know how to deal with it."

"First of all," I said gently, "there's nothing weird about it. Feelings are feelings. It's okay to be confused."

"And second," Mason added, "you've gotta stop overthinking it. If you like him, just tell him. Worst-case scenario, he doesn't feel the same. But at least you'll know, and you won't have to keep driving yourself crazy over it."

Luke nodded slowly, his expression softening. "Yeah. Maybe you're right. I just...it's all new, you know?"

"We know," I said, reaching out to squeeze his arm. "But you've got us, okay? Whatever happens, we've got your back."

Our heartfelt conversation was abruptly interrupted by the sound of shouting. I turned toward the commotion to see James storming away from Amy, his face red with anger. Amy chased after him, her voice raised as she tried to get him to stop.

"What the hell is going on?" Mason muttered, already getting to his feet.

"Drama, apparently," I said, following his lead.

The fight had caught everyone's attention, casting a sudden tension over what had been a carefree day. Whatever was happening between them, it was clearly serious, and I had a sinking feeling this wouldn't end well.

The ride back from the beach was one of those moments that felt like it could last forever, the setting sun casting a warm glow on everything around us. I sat behind Mason on his bike, my arms wrapped tightly around him as we rode through the town and toward the edge of the hill. The soft hum of the engine mixed with the distant sounds of the ocean, and everything felt peaceful.

As we climbed up the mountain, the city lights below us began to twinkle, one by one, like little stars scattered across the darkening landscape. We parked at our usual spot—the one where we always seemed to go when we needed to think, when we needed space to breathe. The quiet of the evening wrapped around us, and for a moment, it felt like the rest of the world didn't exist.

We sat there on the hood of Mason's bike, both of us gazing out at the lights, the sky slowly transitioning from gold to deep purple.

"I can't believe it," I said, breaking the silence. "We've made it this far."

Mason glanced at me, his eyes soft. "I know. It feels unreal."

I sighed, the weight of what was coming sinking in. "Next year's gonna be tough. You'll be in the university, and I'll be here. This small town..." I trailed off, unsure how to put it all into words.

He reached for my hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "We'll make it work. Nothing's gonna change how I feel about you, Alyssa. I know we'll be okay."

"But... a whole year," I murmured. "I don't even know what I'll be doing, and you're gonna be so busy with university. I'm not sure how we'll stay connected through all of that."

Mason turned toward me, his expression more serious now. "I know it won't be easy. But nothing can beat our love, Alyssa. Nothing. We've made it through so much already, and a year apart? That's nothing. I'll be there for you, and I know you'll be there for me, no matter how far away we are."

I could feel the sincerity in his words, and my heart fluttered a little. "You're right. It's just one year. I'll be with you soon enough."

He grinned, the usual playful spark back in his eyes. "Exactly. And we'll be able to visit each other, and who knows? Maybe I'll even get you to move closer to me. Who says you can't live your university life with me?"

I laughed, a soft blush creeping up my cheeks. "You think you can convince me to leave here?"

He nodded, his face growing more serious again. "I know I can. You just have to promise me something."

I tilted my head, curious. "What?"

"Promise me that we'll make it through this. No matter what happens, no matter how hard it gets, we'll stick together. And in one year, you'll be here with me, and we'll start this new chapter of our lives together."

I took a deep breath, staring at him. The future felt uncertain, but his words made everything seem a little bit clearer. I smiled, feeling more confident than I had before. "I promise."

He leaned closer, his forehead resting against mine. "I promise, too. We'll make it work, Alyssa. Nothing can change what we have."

As the last light of the day faded into the night, I felt a sense of peace settle over me. The future still seemed far away, full of unknowns and challenges. But for that one moment, as we sat there together, I knew we could face anything that came our way.

Our love, I realized, was something that could stand the test of time. And no matter where we went, no matter how far apart we might be, we would always find our way back to each other

As the night grew darker and the city lights shimmered below us, I snuggled closer to Mason, letting the cool mountain breeze brush against my skin. For once, I didn't feel anxious about what was coming. The future still felt distant, like a hazy horizon, but sitting there with Mason made everything seem manageable.

We stayed in silence for a while, just enjoying each other's company, the moment stretching out longer than I would have liked. I could feel Mason's fingers intertwined with mine, his warmth seeping into me as we both watched the stars appear one by one, lighting up the sky.

"You know," Mason said softly, breaking the peaceful silence, "I've always wondered how people know when they're ready for something big."

I looked at him, a bit confused. "What do you mean?"

He shifted, his gaze focused on the glowing horizon. "I mean... like, we're both about to start this new chapter, right? I'll be in the university, doing all these new things, and you'll be here. We'll have to learn how to live our lives, grow up... It's huge. But right now, I don't feel nervous or scared. It just feels right, you know?"

I thought about his words, the weight of them sinking in. "I know exactly what you mean. I don't feel scared either. But I guess I always thought I would. I thought it would be harder, especially when we're going to be apart. But now, I just feel... ready."

"Yeah," he agreed, turning to me with that soft smile of his that always made my heart skip a beat. "I think we've already been through so much together. We've figured out how to face things side by side, no matter the distance. This is just another part of our story."

I leaned into him, feeling the strength of his words settle in my chest. He was right. We had come a long way. Our relationship wasn't just about the good times; it was about the challenges too, and the way we always found our way through them.

"I just need you to promise me something, Mason," I said, my voice quieter now.

"Anything," he replied without hesitation, his hand gently brushing my cheek.

"Promise me that even when things get tough, when we're far apart and feeling lost, we won't give up. No matter what happens, we'll keep fighting for this. For us."

He kissed my forehead, a promise in his touch. "I promise, Alyssa. I won't give up. I'm in this for the long haul, no matter where we end up."

I smiled, feeling the weight of his words surround me. In that moment, it felt like nothing could break us. We had something real, something worth fighting for, and I knew we would make it through whatever came our way.

As we sat together, the world below us fading into the soft night, I realized that we were no longer just standing at the edge of the unknown. We were stepping into it, together. And I had no doubt that whatever the future held, we'd face it side by side.

Mason and I talked for a little while longer, our voices soft, our hands still intertwined. We shared our dreams, our hopes for the future, and I knew that no matter how far we were from each other when the time came, we would always be connected. Our love was a constant, something that time and distance could never take away.

Finally, it was time to head back. We rode down the mountain, the lights of the city now a distant glow behind us, the cool night air whipping past us. As we arrived at my house, I couldn't help but feel a little sad that our quiet moment had come to an end. But I also felt a deep sense of peace, knowing that the best was yet to come.

But this... this was how I feel in love with my brother's best friend.

————————————-

 I hoped you enjoyed this book, and if so give a bit of your love, if didn't make some critics or comments to help me improve. Thank you for being here and choosing this book, if you don't want to leave this story and know what happens next go read the second book - My Best Friend's Brother ( The series) - If you would like any other type of plot and new characters read some of my finished works. 

Good reading!

Love, M.M

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My Best Friend's Brother ( The series) 

(ONGOING) Emily and Aiden book

- falling in love with my best friends brother

https://www.wattpad.com/1510273311-my-best-friend%27s-brother-starting-a-series

Marriage Benefits 

(COMPLETED)

- arranged marriage

https://www.wattpad.com/story/308441092-marriage-benefits

Since I Know You
(COMPLETED)
- enemies to lovers - badboy
https://www.wattpad.com/886369296-since-i-know-you-prologue

What was left to say
(ONGOING)
- childhood best friends to lovers
https://www.wattpad.com/1416514343-what-was-left-to-say-introduction