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

CHAPTER 16

PART 4-CHAPTER 166

JESS

This was nice.

Peaceful.

It felt good to be out on a date, doing something normal.

I needed this.

Eric walked beside me, his hands tucked casually into his pockets, his eyes focused on the horizon. He'd been charming all afternoon-holding doors open, making me laugh with his dry wit, his dimples showing every time he cracked a small, quiet smile.

But there was still this... distance. Like there was something just out of reach, something he wasn't saying.

And maybe that was okay. Maybe I was just expecting too much.

"I love living by the beach. It's so beautiful," I said, breaking the silence between us as the cool ocean breeze ruffled my hair.

Eric nodded, glancing over at me with a slight smile. "Yeah. It's quiet. I like it here."

wanting to feel more of a connection. "Did you come here ofter when you lived in the city? I mean, you

when I had time. The beach suits you. I always

Sorry. We probably had this discussion already." I fiddled with my fingers, unable to shake the feeling

thought away and forced a smile. "What about your cabin? What

gave me another shrug. "Needed a change. Wanted to get away

his life. But I let it go, convincing myself it wasn't a big deal. I'd been overanalyzing everything lately, and this was supposed to be fun. A date.

needed this to

cream stand, its neon sign flickering against the darkening sky. My heart lifted, and I turned to

back, his

ice cream, his eyes wandering over the shoreline. "So... do you ever miss living in the city? The busyness, the

didn't meet my gaze. "Not really. I like the quiet.

wasn't interested, and I had no idea why

more to myself than to Eric. "To get away from

second, I thought he wasn't going to, but then he looked over at me, his expression unreadable. "Sometimes starting over is the only option." walk "We don't need to do this. Clearly

I didn't realize. It's just. I've wanted you-I mean this-for so long. I thought I'd never get another shot. "Eric confessed, and I cocked my head to the side. "You asked me out before?"I asked him,

date," Eric said, and

met my first year, and I was with Luke

a date. That's when you told me about your boyfriend and crushed my heart," Eric said, a little flustered, and I was relieved. "Oh jeez, I

chuckled softly, the tension easing a bit as he looked down at his cone. "No. If anything, I was planning on stealing you from

was warming up and charming, but we were back at my

I said, trying to sound casual, but I could hear