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

PART 6-CHAPTER 197 LUKE

The second I was out of the locker room, I grabbed my phone and scrolled to Josh's number. My fingers were shaking, a leftover from everything that had just unfolded, and it took a second longer than I wanted to hit call. I could still hear Michael's pathetic pleading echoing no, needed-was to find Jess.

The line rang. Once. Twice. I almost hung up and called back, but then Josh picked up, his voice groggy and disinterested. "Yeah?"

"Where is Jess?" I demanded, cutting straight through the tired haze in his voice. My tone left no room for hesitation. "I need to know where she is right now."

There was a pause, then a deep sigh. "What the hell, Luke? What's going on? You need to let Jess go, man. I love you like a brother, but you can't keep giving her hope. She needs a chance to move on,"

I clenched my jaw, my hand squeezing the phone so tightly I could feel the plastic straining. "Josh. Listen. I just ended things with Francesca. She's been cheating on me with some rookie-Michael-and there's no baby. It's not mine. I ended it. It's over."

Silence. I could almost hear the gears turning in his head as he processed that. "Wait. You're serious? You could have led with that, you know, asshole!"

"Completely," I said, my voice a low growl. I didn't have the patience to explain the humiliating details, not right now. "Now, tell me where Jess

DOCK

1. is. I have to see her, Josh. I need to fix this."

he breathed out a

closed my eyes, exhaling heavily. "So you'll

I'll tell you. In fact, I'm coming with you." Josh's voice had a spark

a bag together, barely time to process that I'd just upended my entire life. It didn't matter.

racing over every single thing I'd done

me nowhere but here. Josh didn't talk much, and I was

immediately whipped out his phone, dialing Laura's number. He paced back and forth, muttering impatiently as each call went straight to voicemail. "Damn it, Laura, pick up," he grumbled,

attempts, he glanced over at me, his brow

try." I didn't really expect anything, but the second I hit call,

finally picked up, she didn't sound as surprised as I'd

took everything to keep my impatience in check. "We're here

PART & CHAPTER 197

just tell us

a hesitation on the line, then she sighed. "She's... busy, Luke. It's been a lot for her, and I don't think it's a good idea for you

my tone sharper than I intended. "Please. I'm not leaving without talking to

replied, her voice cool and firm. "I can't help

leaving me

already taking a few steps down the street, scanning the shop windows as we walked. We both knew Jess was here somewhere; Laura had just confirmed it by the very fact she'd tried to stonewall me. We kept moving up and down the narrow street, my gaze combing