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

CHAPTER 71 LUKE

The second the words left Jess's mouth, the world around me collapsed. Everything slowed to a crawl. I turned to face Josh, bracing myself for the storm that was about to hit. He was already shaking with fury. His fists clenched so tight his knuckles were bone white. The air between us was suddenly

gone.

"Josh," I started my hands up in surrender, my voice steady. "I'm sorry. I should have told you-"

"You!" Josh's voice was a low, dangerous growl, the kind that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. "You and my sister! You!" His words were barely more than a breath, forced through gritted teeth, each syllable cutting into me. "You're my best friend! My brother! The next thing I knew, he launched himself at me, a wall of muscle and rage. I barely had time to brace myself before his shoulder slammed into my chest, driving the air from my lungs. We crashed into a table, sending drinks and glasses flying.

All I could see was Josh, red-faced and wild-eyed, coming at me again, and I knew I deserved it. But I was too proud to give him more than one shot.

Instinct took over. I rolled with the momentum, pushing him off and scrambling to my feet just as he swung at me. His fist connected with my jaw, and a white-hot burst of pain shot down CHAPTER 71

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my neck as my head snapped. But I was on my feet, adrenaline pumping, every nerve on fire.

the way, but it was all background noise. All that mattered was Josh-Josh, who was supposed to be my brother, now looking at me like I was the

to get a hold of him, pushing him off and landing a punch of my own square to his gut. He doubled over, but only

of arms hauled back Josh, and suddenly, we were both being dragged toward the exit, our feet barely touching the ground. "Bouncers," my brain registered through the haze of pain and anger. They were big guys, but it took all their strength to keep us apart. Josh was still thrashing, trying to get to me, and I

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we were outside, the cool night air hitting my face like a bucket of ice water. The bouncers didn't give us a chance to

fast. I hit the ground with a grunt,

to his feet, eyes locked on me, still seething with rage. But the bouncers were between us now, a solid wall

his voice cutting through

jaw without wincing. Josh was next to me, looking just as messed up, if not worse. His left eye was nearly swollen shut. A bouncer took pity on us and threw us a

pressed the ice pack to my lip, feeling the cold sting against the cut. Josh held his to his eye, not saying a word. We both just sat there, staring at the ground, trying to catch our

take the silence anymore. "Listen, man," I started, my

waving his hand

why you didn't. I get it." His voice was flat but not

it go. "No, you don't, man," I said, turning to face him. "I

CHAPTER 71