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

CHAPTER 74

JESS

"Okay, ladies! We're hitting the track today, and I don't want to hear any excuses! I don't care if it's your time of the month, you've got a headache, or your boyfriend said your hair looks like a hot mess. If you want to pass this class and not be stuck taking it again next year, proclaimed 'ball-buster, she thrived off

intimidating us.

Laura and I exchanged exasperated glances. The heat outside was unbearable, and the very thought of running felt like a punishment.

Laura had been trapped in this dark spiral ever since my brother, Josh, confessed that he cheated on her with some girl from a rival school. Despite our efforts to lift her spirits, she remained stuck, so we hovered around her like worried mothers. Gripping her arm, I led her outside, ignoring the emptiness painted across her face. She didn't need more pitying gazes from our classmates. Everyone heard the rumors.

On top of that, I was doing my best to avoid Josh as

if he were the plague. Every time he entered the same space as me, I bolted in the opposite direction. I refused to have that conversation, especially knowing he was still friends with Luke after everything, which made sense. 07.56

CHAPTER 74

The whole reason Luke wouldn't or didn't, or no- he did- was because of Josh and his friendship with Josh. He gave me all these excuses about why he avoided me and didn't want to go there with me... because of Josh. How wrong I was...

good enough for him, but I was good enough for

into the sweltering sunlight, my eyes zeroed in on Luke. He was shirtless, muscles glistening with sweat, running laps on the football field. Just like every other girl on the track, I froze for a moment, a little

hard against the lump in my throat, my tongue darting out to moisten my suddenly dry lips. I knew I should hate him, but honestly? Who would look away from that? Heat flooded my cheeks, and flashbacks of his bare chest hovering above me brought back me I shivered at the thought but pulled my gaze away, reminding myself that I needed to stop

against my better judgment, I cast another glance to see if she spotted Josh. She did - I could tell. But her expression was like stone-something worse than anger

do was look

CHAPTER 74

1288 Mauchers

on Josh's chest as if to keep him from

Good.

had the common sense to keep

my thoughts. "It's simple! The more laps you run, the better your final mark. Let's move! On your

breath, I forced

ran, feeling the heat from earlier, not just

on their hips, panting heavily, and finding excuses to sit in the shade. But I wouldn't be one of them-not today, and neither

I was teetering on the edge. I pushed forward,

but at least there was emotion on her face. As we continued to circle the track, one by one, the others faded until only Laura and