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

PART 6- CHAPTER 194 JESS

The days had blurred together since I'd arrived in Paris. Time felt irrelevant when every hour was just another battle to keep my mind from collapsing into

itself. But Paris felt wasted on me in all its beauty, even though Laura did her best to pull me into her world. Whenever she coaxed me out of the apartment, I'd trudge alongside her, a shadow to her light, watching the city from a distance.

"Jess," Laura's voice cut through my thoughts. She was standing by the couch, arms crossed, her brows knitted like she did when she was officially done putting up with me. "You've been here for almost a month now, and you barely leave the apartment unless I drag you o I groaned, pulling a pillow over my head, but she yanked it away. I glanced up, half-heartedly annoyed, meeting her determined stare.

"Seriously, Jess. I get it. He was

a big part of your life, and I know he hurt you. But he doesn't get to keep hurting you. Not now, and definitely not. for the rest of your life." She sighed, her tone softening. "This isn't you. You're strong and resilient, and one guy doesn't get to take that away from you. And righ I stared at her, knowing she was right but feeling like it was a truth I couldn't quite reach. My mind was stuck in this deep, dark hole, and no matter how much I tried, I couldn't climb out of it.

Laura sighed, clearly losing patience. "Okay, I've had enough," she said,

TWIT & CHAPTER 101

and yanking me off

"Hey! What are you-"

going to the shower, and you're getting in, even if I have to throw you in myself. And after that, we're going out. There's an art exhibition tonight, and you' re putting on that sexy black dress we bought, and you're coming with

determination. "Laura, I'm not in the

again, I felt a freezing burst of water cascade over

shut behind her as I scrambled out of the

letting it wash over me, like maybe it could rinse away the stale sadness that clung to my skin. It was the first time I'd properly

myself in a towel and peered into the mirror. My skin looked pale, my eyes tired, and

the bedroom, where Laura had already laid out the little black dress on the bed, her own dress hanging on the back of the door. PART & CHAPTER

That's better already. Now, hurry up and get dressed. We're not going to waste another

curl my hair into loose waves, swipe some mascara on my lashes, and shove me into a pair of heels before I'd fully registered what was happening. As we stepped into the balmy Parisian evening, she linked her arm with mine, smiling like she'd just won a prize We took the metro, emerging into a cobblestone street that led to a grand old building. The exhibition was already buzzing with people, laughter and conversation filling the air as we made our way inside. Soft music played in the background, the kind that felt more like a he Laura squeezed my arm, giving me a smile that was both proud and a little mischievous. "See? Isn't this

nodded, though I couldn't quite shake the tension in my chest. It felt strange to be out, to let myself breathe a little, even if it was with one of