Page 93 of Rise Above

chuckled softly, patting his bed so I could sit. “Being in love should be easy, fun even.”

My brain processed what my brother was saying. I

didn’t think what Melody and I had was love. I didn’t think I really knew what love was, but that’s what my older brother was for. He was supposed to tell me things, especially since Dad was gone. Grief hit my chest. I really needed Dad right now.

“… Is loving someone different than being in love

with someone?” I finally asked. In my heart, I knew the two were different, but I wanted to hear Eaton’s response.

My brother sighed. I could tell the question

bothered Eaton a bit, though there was no telling why. My brother was always the quieter of the five of us.

“Why do you always ask such deep questions?” He

ran a hand through his hair. “I’m not Dad, you know.”

His words hit my chest. I knew Eaton wasn’t Dad,

but he had spent the most time with him and had more of Dad’s wisdom imparted to him. Sighing, I turned to leave his room. I wasn’t going to play this game with him if he didn’t want to talk with me. I was trying to figure out my own feelings.

“James, wait.” He placed a hand on my shoulder. “I

know you’re just trying to figure something out. Look, it’s just hard. I feel like I’m not always the best brother.”

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Turning around to my brother, I leveled a look at

him. “You’re a fine older brother, Eaton. Answer my question.”

EJ smiled at me and forced me to sit on his bed

again. “You don’t ask easy questions, TJ. Loving someone is vastly different than being in love. Love comes in many forms. There’s the type of love you feel for friends, family, and pets, and then there’s the love you feel for a partner. Being in love is not something you choose. Being in love is kind of something that just happens to you. Falling in love is magical and that’s why people talk about the ‘honeymoon stage.’ That’s when you’re just in love. Loving your partner is a choice. You may have fallen in love with someone, but you choose to love them every day. Every day, you find something to love about your partner. Being in love tends to go hand in hand with loving someone.”

I blinked. I didn’t expect that kind of an answer

from my brother. It was like he had thought about this many times. His words triggered something in my brain, and I realized what I felt for Aife. It scared me though. I think love would always scare me.

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Before I knew it, it was Saturday. My palms were

sweaty, thinking of my family meeting the woman I was possibly in love with. What if they didn’t like her? What if she didn’t like them? There were so many what ifs in this scenario. It made my heart race just thinking about everything that could go wrong. What if she liked my brothers more than me? I didn’t think I could handle that. Aife was my woman. A smile grew on my face at the thought: she was my woman, my best friend.

The doorbell rang, taking me out of my thoughts.

Nerves briefly wracked my body as I quickly moved toward my mom’s door before my family could. Thankfully, I managed to beat my brothers. However, Mom was already there pulling the door open with a wide grin. Her eyes seemed to rove over Aife, taking in her appearance. Her face lit up, pleased with what she saw.

“You must be Aife.” Mom moved to the right as

Aife entered. “It’s nice to finally meet you.” Without a thought, Mom hugged her tightly.

I blinked. “Mom, let her go.”