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."

here ofter when you lived in the

flickering away from mine. "Sometimes, 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 that he was holding

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

another shrug. "Needed a change. Wanted to get

short answer. No details, no real glimpse into his life. But I let it go, convincing myself it

this

reached a little ice cream stand, its neon sign flickering against

back, his dimples

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

"Not really. I like the

the worst date in History - clearly, he wasn't interested, and I had no idea why he

to myself than to Eric. "To get away

unreadable. "Sometimes starting over is the only option." walk "We don't need to do this. Clearly you aren't in it. I'll

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

say we even went on a date," Eric said, and I

met my first year, and I was with Luke

thought it was just a study night, and I thought it was 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 almost thought I was a cheater in my previous life. That would

If anything, I was planning on stealing you from him,

laughed. Finally, Eric was warming up and charming, but we were back at my apartment

but I could hear the uncertainty