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

CHAPTER 81 LUKE

Prom night. The pinnacle of teenage dreams. The night everyone looked forward to-the night everyone was supposed to remember for the rest of their lives.

"What a fucking waste of my time," I grumbled, hiding behind a goddamn pillar, bored out of my skull. At the same time, Tiffany hunted me like some over-enthusiastic predator to drag me onto the dance floor.

I took another swig from the flask, letting the whiskey burn its way down my throat, then tucked it away before someone saw it. I pulled at the tie to breathe better, and this fucking suit wasn't helping either.

Josh leaned against the pillar next to me, his shoulders slumped, looking as defeated as ever. Laura hadn't shown up, and Jess...well, I hadn't expected her to come. At least, that's what I told myself. But there was that tiny, nagging part of me that hoped she'd walk through those doors, look around, and find me.

Stupid.

"Fucking hell, this night sucks balls," Josh muttered, his words slightly slurred. He glanced over at me, his eyes bleary but determined, as if he'd reached some kind of epiphany. He grabbed my shoulder, his grip surprisingly strong, and turned me to face him. "You know, man-I don't want you to feel like

CHAPTER 81

this. If you love her, go get her. I sure as hell tried-failed-but at least I tried."

words. Love? Why the fuck was Josh talking about Love? Did he love

Do I love Jess?

the idea. He said it

Jess, all I will be doing in reality is setting off a ticking time bomb, waiting to blow up both our lives. A wouldn't do that to

can't, man." My voice was low. "I'm bad for

he stared me down, his eyes sharp despite the alcohol. "You will

saying that, but I was his son, wasn't I? The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. I'm destined to be just like him, to ruin everything I touched. Hell, I've

not him," Josh said again with more resolve. "You're better than that. Better than him. Jess...she deserves someone who's gonna fight for her. Someone who won't give up before

when was Josh the soft, love-wins, happy-ending type of guy? I took the flask away from him, "Okay, no more whisky for you. You sound like a teenage girl, Love conquers all bullshit." I joked,

11 238 Movers

wanted to believe I wasn't doomed to repeat my father's mistakes. But the fear was always there, lurking in the back of my mind, whispering that I wasn't good enough for her. That I'd only end up hurting her.

sighed, leaning back against the pillar and taking another swig from the flask. "You can lie to yourself all you want, but don't lie to me. I see the way you look at her, man. Just... don't wait until it's

out at the dance floor where couples were swaying under the dim lights, lost in their own little

Jess-how her cheeks warmed when I ... Those tiny breaths that hitch in her throat when she reaches her...

suggest we ditch this whole scene when suddenly, the double doors to the ballroom burst open. The sound of hurried footsteps echoed through

twisted in panic, her eyes wide with fear. She was pushing through the crowd, her steps frantic, barely noticing the stares