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."

you come here ofter when you lived in the city? I mean, you mentioned you've been living out in the nature reserve for a

from mine. "Sometimes, when I had time. The beach suits you.

shake the feeling that he was holding back, but I told

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

second, then gave me another shrug. "Needed a

into 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

this to be

against the darkening sky. My heart lifted, and I turned to Eric with a grin. "Ice

smiled back, his

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

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

worst date in History - clearly, he wasn't interested, and I

myself than to

For a 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 you aren't in it. I'll just home. Really." I shrugged, ready to tuck my tail between my legs and run

so long. I thought I'd never get another shot. "Eric confessed, and I cocked my head to the

even went on a date," Eric said,

a date? How? I thought you said we met my first year, and I was with

where I got it wrong. You 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,

at his cone. "No. If anything, I was planning on stealing you

up and charming, but

trying to sound casual, but I could