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

PART 5- CHAPTER 182

JESS

The door creaked open, and my heart skipped a beat as Josh stepped into the room, followed closely by my dad. Relief washed over me, so intense it brought tears to my eyes. My dad's face looked weary, his hair disheveled, and Josh looked like he hadn't slept in days. I

here. They were okay. I

pushed myself up, the sudden movement sending a sharp jolt of pain through my leg, but I ignored it.

"Jess!" Josh's voice cracked as he rushed forward, and before! knew it, he and my dad had their arms around me, pulling me into a tight embrace. I held on, feeling the steady thud of their hearts against my own, the familiar scent of aftershave and * sweat. They were warm, solid, real. It was enough to make me forget, for just a second, about the nightmare I had woken up from.

When they finally pulled back, I couldn't hold back the smile tugging at my lips. "I remember," said, the words tumbling out before I had the chance to think them through.

Josh's brow furrowed, and he nodded slowly. "Yeah... I wish this night you would forget, though."

"No," I insisted, shaking my head. "You don't understand. I remember all of it." My voice was firm, the realization still making my heart race.

Josh and my dad froze, staring at me like I'd just told them I

PART & - CHAPTER 182

288 Wouchers

of my words hung heavy in the air, and I

said, his voice barely above a whisper, "you

in my eyes.

stepped in, clipboard in hand. My father turned to her, his voice tight

eyebrows shot up, but a smile slowly spread across her face. "Sometimes, a traumatic

is enough to reconnect pathways that were once blocked. It's a good sign, Jess. It means your

had felt just out of reach for so long were now flashing vividly behind my eyes. Faces, names, moments-everything was coming back, and I wasn't sure if it was overwhelming or exhilarating. Maybe it was

her glasses and glancing down at

haze of everything-Bryan, the-memories flooding back, the hospital-I'd completely forgotten about

PART 5 CHAPTER 182

I looked down, I saw the thick bandages wrapped around it, tinged with faint blood spots. A wave

trying to shift without causing too much pain,

hands still gripping the railing of the hospital bed like he was afraid I'd vanish if he let go. "Bryan... he didn't just-" His voice broke, and he looked away, his knuckles turni "It's okay," I said softly, even though it wasn't.

toward being

as it

flared up every time she touched the bandage. My dad's

you think..." my dad began hesitantly, glancing between me and the doctor, "that she'll be okay? I mean, will she recover

sure, but Jess is young, and she's clearly a fighter. With the right

optimistic."