He's just a friend

(Christian) I stared at Greyson, wondering whether he listened to himself when he spoke. He was acting like I needed his permission to visit Omegaville. We weren't even officially mates yet, and he was already deciding where I could go. I couldn't imagine what he'd be like once our bond was confirmed. "There's nothing to see about, Greyson." He crossed his arms and looked at me. I could tell he wasn't expecting me to argue in front of everyone. Too bad, because I wasn't changing my mind. "I don't know anything about this Eli." "Neither do I, which is why I'm getting to know him." Jaxon started laughing behind his brother. Mason covered his mouth, although he was clearly enjoying this too. Greyson turned to glare at them. "You're enjoying annoying me." "Very much." Pop laughed so loudly that Dad came outside to see what was happening. He looked between us before turning to Pop. I wondered if he regretted having a child with someone who enjoyed causing trouble. "What happened now?" "Your son made a friend, and Greyson is having a crisis." Dad looked at Greyson before shaking his head. Arlo was laughing beside Pop, and neither seemed interested in helping. I wasn't complaining because Greyson deserved it. "Greyson, leave Christian alone." "But Landon, we don't know this boy." Dad folded his arms and gave him a look. I recognized it immediately because I'd received it plenty of times growing up. Greyson seemed to recognize it too. "And how exactly is Christian supposed to make friends if you keep chasing everyone away?" Greyson didn't answer, which made me grin. I wanted to thank Dad, but I knew he'd probably start asking whether I'd eaten anything. Instead, I turned toward the entrance. "I'm going to my room." Jaxon immediately came beside me. I looked at him, wondering whether he was about to start behaving like Greyson. He raised both hands before I could say anything. "I'm just walking inside, Christian." "Good, because I was about to charge you for following me." He laughed and opened the door. I walked inside with him while Mason followed us. Greyson stayed outside with our fathers, probably trying to convince them I needed a personal guard. "You're really going back to see Eli?" I looked at Jaxon as we entered the living room. He seemed curious rather than upset, which was a nice change. I sat on the couch and pulled a cushion onto my lap. "Yeah, we both like drawing." Mason sat in the chair across from me. He'd seen plenty of my drawings over the years. He'd even kept one I made of him when we were younger. "Is he good?" "Really good, actually." Jaxon sat beside me and reached for the television remote. I watched him turn it on before settling against the couch. He didn't seem bothered by Eli. "You should invite him here sometime." I looked at Jaxon in surprise. That was the last thing I expected to hear from one of the triplets. Mason nodded as though he agreed. "Maybe after you get to know him better." I smiled because that sounded reasonable. I wasn't planning to bring Eli home after meeting him once. Besides, I had no idea whether he'd want to visit. "That's what I was thinking." Greyson entered the living room before anyone could say anything else. He looked at the three of us before coming over. I wondered whether Dad had managed to talk some sense into him. "What are we talking about?" "Christian inviting Eli over." I turned toward Jaxon in disbelief. He looked far too pleased with himself as Greyson stopped beside the couch. I knew he'd said it on purpose. "Inviting him where?" "Here, eventually." Greyson looked at Mason as though he'd betrayed him. Mason didn't seem interested in joining another argument. He reached for the television remote Jaxon had abandoned. "He's allowed to have friends, Greyson." "I never said he wasn't." I looked at him and raised an eyebrow. He'd spent several minutes complaining about someone he hadn't met. Apparently, Greyson had a different understanding of friendship. "Then why are you acting like Eli stole something from you?" Jaxon burst out laughing and nearly fell off the couch. Mason started laughing too, and I joined them. Greyson looked offended, which made everything funnier. "Christian, that's not funny." "It is from where I'm sitting." He stared at me before sitting on my other side. I wondered whether he planned to spend the afternoon watching me. I didn't mind sitting with him, but I wasn't starting another argument. "Can I ask you something?" I looked at him because his voice sounded more serious now. Jaxon lowered the television volume, and Mason turned toward us. I wondered what Greyson wanted to know. "Depends on the question." "Do you like him?" I stared at him for several seconds. He couldn't possibly be asking whether I liked Eli romantically after one conversation. Then I remembered who I was dealing with. "Yes, Greyson, I like my new friend." "That's not what I meant." I put the cushion aside and stood. I wasn't spending the afternoon explaining why talking to another boy wasn't a crime. Greyson looked up at me, waiting for an answer. "Then stop asking stupid questions." I headed toward my room before he could respond. Jaxon called after me, but I told him I was getting my sketchbook. I wanted to decide which drawings to show Eli. When I entered my room, I found three sketchbooks on my desk. I picked up the oldest and opened it to a picture of Pop and Dad. I'd drawn them together when I was fourteen, and Pop had complained that I'd made his head too big. Dad had laughed so much that Pop refused to speak to him for an hour. I smiled at the memory and turned another page. There was a drawing of Arlo sleeping with his mouth open while Jacob sat beside him. Arlo had threatened to destroy it when he found out. Jacob had offered me fifty dollars for the original. A knock came at my door while I was looking through another book. I expected Greyson, so I prepared myself for another argument. Instead, Jaxon entered carrying two bottles of water. "Thought you might want one." I accepted the bottle and placed it on my desk. Jaxon looked through the open sketchbook before pointing at a picture of Greyson. It showed him covered in flour after Pop and I played a prank on him. "You should show Eli this one." I laughed and pulled the sketchbook away. Greyson would probably never forgive me if a stranger saw that drawing. Then again, he'd been getting on my nerves. "Maybe I will." Jaxon grinned and sat on my bed. I watched him look around my room before turning back to me. He seemed to have something else on his mind. "Greyson isn't going to stop worrying about Eli." "I know." Jaxon nodded and looked at my sketchbook. I appreciated that he wasn't trying to defend everything his brother did. He knew how difficult Greyson could be. "I'll talk to him." I looked at Jaxon and smiled. He was trying to help without making decisions for me. I wished Greyson understood how much easier things could be. "Thanks, Jaxon." He smiled before getting up to leave. I returned to my drawings after he closed the door. I didn't know when I'd visit Omegaville again, but I was looking forward to seeing Eli. Greyson wasn't going to ruin that for me.