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."

trying to process his words. Love? Why

Do I love Jess?

snorted at the idea. He

with Jess, all I will be doing in reality is setting off a ticking time bomb, waiting to blow up both our

man." My voice was low. "I'm bad for her. Look at my

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

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,

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

flask away from him, "Okay, no more whisky for you. You sound

11 238 Movers

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

sighed, leaning back against the pillar and taking another swig from the flask. "You can lie to yourself all you want, but

swaying under the dim lights, lost in their own little

mind was on Jess-how her cheeks warmed when I ... Those

footsteps echoed through the hall, cutting through the

in panic, her eyes wide with fear. She was pushing through