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

fly. The weight of my words hung heavy in the air, and I could see

Josh said, his voice barely above a whisper, "you mean... you remember

nodded, tears welling in my eyes. "Yes. Everything.

open, and the doctor stepped in, clipboard in hand. My father turned to her, his voice tight with disbelief.

shot up, but a smile slowly spread across her face. "Sometimes, a traumatic event can act as a trigger," she

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

of relief and nervousness. Memories that had felt just out of reach for so long were now flashing vividly behind my eyes. Faces, names,

the doctor said, adjusting her glasses and glancing down at her clipboard, "let's take a

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

PART 5 CHAPTER 182

I saw the thick bandages wrapped around it, tinged with faint blood spots. A wave of nausea hit me, and I

to shift without causing too

I saw his jaw tighten. "They said it was fractured," he said quietly, his 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. Nothing about any of this was

toward

my leg. "You're lucky," she said, calm and clinical. "The damage wasn't as severe as it could have been, but you'll need to keep off it for a

on the searing pain that flared up every time she touched the bandage. My dad's hand found mine, squeezing tightly, and I held on, needing

and the doctor, "that she'll be okay?

early to say for sure, but Jess

optimistic."