Letting My Brother's Best Friend Take My V-Card

CHAPTER 41 JESS

Lying on my bed, I scrolled aimlessly through my feed, trying to distract myself from the turmoil inside me. The morning had been a whirlwind, and I was still reeling

from the confrontation with Luke. My thoughts were a chaotic mess, making it impossible to focus on anything for more than a few seconds.

Suddenly, a message popped up on my screen, causing my heart to skip a beat.

Luke: Jess. We need to talk.

I stared at the message, my fingers hovering over the keyboard. The last thing I wanted was to talk to him, especially after everything that had happened. I locked my phone and threw it beside me on the bed, taking a deep breath to calm myself. But my phone pinged again, making my heart race.

Luke: Jessica. Just answer the phone.

Anger surged through me, fueled by the frustration and hurt that had been building all morning. I grabbed my phone and typed back furiously.

Me: NO

I sent the message, hoping it would be enough to deter him. But within seconds, his name flashed across the screen. He was calling me.

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I hesitated, my thumb hovering over the "Decline" button. But something inside me-maybe curiosity, maybe the need for closure-made me swipe to answer.

"What do you want, Luke?" I snapped, not bothering to hide my anger.

he said, his voice softer

anything to say to you,"

he pleaded.

to care about me, only to treat me like

said, frustration creeping into his voice. "Just, let's

him out of my life completely. But another part

back on my bed, feeling the weight of the morning's events pressing down on me. My phone buzzed

you know

tree house. Our old fort. I

back a reluctant

Me: FINE

were rarely home, and Josh and I had learned to take care of

of pizza and swallowed hard. "Yeah. I applied

did Luke," he beamed, and my dad

"Hun," she said, pulling my dad's attention.

it was too good to be true. I dropped my pizza and pushed my

it was childish, but I needed my parents. I needed my mother. I needed to tell her what happened with Bryan, to have her hug me and tell me it

bed, tears streaming down my face. The hurt and anger bubbled up, and I buried my face in my

III

CHATTER #1

and I glared at the screen through blurry

see

go, but something inside me pushed me to get up and

water on my face. I looked at

that they were... whatever they were. Maybe Sam, but