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

PART 3 - CHAPTER 160

JESS

I slipped of my sandals and walked barefoot across the grass until I got to the pool. Walking along the edge and watching the water sparkle.

From inside, through the sliding glass door, I could hear Aiden's voice, low and steady, mingling with my father's deeper timbre. I knew the conversation well enough by now-

plans for his future, for our future, investments, and business propositions. I had tried to tell him, please don't involve my dad, but his words came back like an iron wall: It's for our financial future, Jess.

I had no response, just a tightening in my chest, so I turned and walked out.

Now, outside by the pool, I exhaled, letting the tension drain through my fingertips as I rubbed my arms against the evening chill.

The soft creak of the door sliding open behind me broke the silence. I didn't need to turn around to know who it was. The shift in the air around me, the low hum of tension that always seemed to follow him, told me enough. "You don't need to thank me," Luke's voice cut through the quiet, calm and sure.

I spun around, narrowing my eyes at him. "For what?"

He smirked, that familiar, infuriating half-smile that could make

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PART 3 CHAPTER 160

PART 3 - CHAPTER 160

JESS

I slipped of my sandals and walked barefoot across the grass until I got to the pool. Walking along the edge and watching the water sparkle.

From inside, through the sliding glass door, I could hear Aiden's voice, low and steady, mingling with my father's deeper timbre. I knew the conversation well enough by now-plans for his

investments, and business propositions. I had tried to tell him, please don't involve my dad, but his words came back like an

response, just a tightening in

outside by the pool, I exhaled, letting the tension drain through my fingertips as I rubbed my arms against the

open behind me broke the silence. I didn't need to turn around to know who it was. The shift in the air around me, the low hum of tension that always seemed to follow him, told me enough. "You don't need to thank

around, narrowing my eyes

familiar, infuriating half-smile

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PART 3 CHAPTER 160

288 Vouchers

blood boil at the same time. "For lying

and for a split second, I just stared at him, trying to form words. "Lying?" I finally managed, my voice sharper than

me, his eyes never leaving mine. "About the Jeep. I sold that thing when I moved to L.A. There's

through every wall I had tried to build.

remember everything," I snapped, my words tumbling out faster than I could stop them. "I hate those looks, Luke. The hope on everyone's faces, the

second I don't remember what they

him. The lump in my throat made it hard to breathe, let alone speak. My fingers curled into fists at my sides, nails biting into my palms. "It's like they're waiting for me to be whole again, but I'm not. And I don't know if I ever

there, just watching me, and for a second, I thought maybe he'd leave

step closer. He reached for me, his arms pulling me into a hug, but I stood rigid in his embrace

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PART 3 CHAPTER 160

288 Vouchers

my body molded to

wait," he whispered, his breath warm against my

Something inside me snapped.

"Don't you get that? The old me-she's gone! I m it never come back!" Luke's face fell,

as I turned to see Aiden standing in the doorway, my father just behind him. They were both staring at us, eyes wide