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

HAPTER 93 JESS

The late afternoon sun filtered through the curtains, casting a soft golden hue across the room where I sat cross-legged on my bed. It felt like a different world, but the familiar chaos of my mind still haunted the edges of my reality.

One week had passed since I woke up in that hospital room. I was back home, but was I back to normal?

I had missed my graduation ceremony-along with Laure. Instead, we were huddled in bed together, eating snacks and watching the whole thing from the video call with Sam.

I watched, holding my breath to see if he was there. If I could see him, but he wasn't, or maybe Sam made sure she didn't point the phone in his direction.

He didn't even visit me in the hospital or send me a message... nothing. I wanted to say thank you to him for saving my life... I wanted to tell him... ugh. It was pointless. These thoughts were pointless.

The worst part was the nightmares. My memories flooded back in dizzying cascades. They never came as coherent scenes; instead, they were fragmented shards of a nightmare universe- the sounds of sirens, jagged glass, and darkness swallowing me whole. The nightmares tormented me, forcing me awake in terror, my

CHAPTER 93

heart racing and my body slick with sweat. I had no idea I was screaming until Josh woke me up

a few times. For the past 3 days, though, it has stopped. I didn't wake up screaming, and Josh said I'd been sleeping through the night, though there was something he wasn't telling me. I could see it on his face.

was feeling better, and my headaches were less severe. I get to take my arm out of the sling in a few days and then start

parents had left to return to Europe-precisely what I expected, but it didn't lessen the disappointment. I was thankful for the space, though. I was not used to having them here all the time. Josh was mostly at Laura or practice- I'd heard he got drafted along with

season.

more with what was going to happen. Today, Tom was coming over, and I had decided today was the day I would tell him it wouldn't work. Deep down, I think he knows, but I need to finish

to say in my head, trying to find the perfect words, only to be interrupted by the sound

Okay. Jess. You got this," I chanted

I smoothed my hair back, attempting to soothe my racing heart, but the instant he walked in, all I felt was guilt. Tom stood there, holding a bouquet of bright red flowers, his sweet, boyish grin lighting up his face as

these for you!" he exclaimed, offering the flowers like a gift from the

Tom," I replied, forcing a

stepped closer, the fatigue evident in the dark circles under his eyes. "How

guess," I

his face, but I could see the question in

I began, swallowing hard, trying to find the strength in those trembling words. "There's something I need to talk

the shift in

""What is it?"

but supportive, and I can't express how much

sparkle in his eye dim, a flicker of realization dawning. "But I think... I

in that instant, I felt like all