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."

"Did you come here ofter when you lived in the city? I mean, you mentioned

from mine. "Sometimes, when I had time. The beach suits you. I always thought you'd look beautiful with

I fiddled with my fingers, unable to shake the feeling that he was holding back, but I told myself not to

forced a smile. "What about your cabin? What made

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

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

needed this to be

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

smiled back, his dimples

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

meet my gaze. "Not really. I like the quiet. Less...

wasn't

I said softly, more 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

Jess. No. I'm sorry. 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

went on a date," Eric said, and I paused

year, and I was with Luke then. "That

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

as he looked down at his cone. "No. If anything, I was planning on stealing you from him, but that didn't work

up and charming, but we were back at my apartment

casual, but I could hear the uncertainty in my own voice.