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

had tried to tell him, please don't involve my dad, but his words came back like an iron wall: It's for

had no response, just a tightening in my chest, so I turned

pool, I exhaled, letting the tension drain through my fingertips as I rubbed my

the air around me, the low hum of tension that always seemed to follow him, told

my eyes at him. "For

that familiar, infuriating half-smile

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PART 3 CHAPTER 160

288 Vouchers

my blood boil at the same time.

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

"About the Jeep. I sold that thing when I moved to L.A. There's

his gaze steady and unyielding, cutting right through every wall I had tried to build. Tears prickled at the

snapped, my words tumbling out faster than I could stop them. "I hate those looks, Luke.

eyes, only to die the second I don't remember what they

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

say anything right away. He stood there, just watching me, and for a second, I thought maybe he'd leave

for me, his arms pulling me into a hug, but I

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PART 3 CHAPTER 160

288 Vouchers

molded to his, and

his breath warm

Something inside me snapped.

shaking with all the anger and frustration that had been building for so long. "Don't you get that? The old me-she's gone! I m it never come back!" Luke's face fell, the smirk replaced with something darker, something more painful. His

bursts as I turned to see Aiden standing in the doorway, my