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

WATER IS WINE JESS

Hi, babe! I'm so happy you're here!" Laura pulled me into a hug so tight I thought my lungs would explode. I pushed back the tears and swallowed the knot in my throat. I was so happy to see her-even though I'd seen her a month ago, it felt like an eternity.

She was the only piece I had left of them. It was just us now. We would have to be each other's family because we'd lost ours. I pulled back and saw the same thoughts reflected in her eyes, but neither of us voiced it.

We never would. But it was there-the scar we both now bore.. Widows. We were widows, and that was that.

"So I've got the cutest little apartment, and there's a new manager at the gallery. I haven't met him yet, but we're going to dinner tonight. I'm so happy you're here. I was so

nervous, but I feel better now." Laura took a deep breath and pulled me to her side again, placing a gentle hand on my stomach.

"Are we talking about this yet, or not...?" She asked softly. shook my head, biting my bottom lip and blinking back tears. I wasn't ready. I knew I needed to, but I wasn't ready.

I felt like I was betraying him. Doing things he would miss out on without him. Like he'd show up out of nowhere, and

everything would suddenly go back to normal. I knew it wouldn't -I wasn't delusional. I was just... broken, I guess.

0001

WATER IS WINE

"Laura-" She turned around, wiping away her own sadness, and gave me a small smile, holding out her hand. "We'll do this together. New start, okay? Let's just try..." she whispered, and I knew she needed this as much as I did. After a coffee and a croissant, we got ready for the dinner. I pulled a navy blue dress over my head, thankful for the A-line cut that hid the evidence of my... well-anyway.

Laura helped me braid my hair over one shoulder in a loose, sophisticated style, and in turn, I helped her let her dirty blonde hair fall in soft curls down her back. She looked stunning-the low, plunging neckline of her satin black dress with thin straps made her a vision. "See-we can still get dressed up and go out. It's okay to do this, right?" Laura looked up at me in the mirror as if I held the answer, the key. To make it okay to move on with our lives despite... everything.

The restaurant was a beautiful mix of rustic charm and modern elegance, with flickering candles casting warm light across the wooden tables and leather chairs. I felt my nerves flutter as we stepped inside, the soft hum of French conversation and clinking glasses creating Laura and I had barely taken in our surroundings when two very tall, handsome men approached us, accompanied by an older woman with striking silver-

gray hair, her beauty softened but unmistakable. Their eyes sparkled with that effortlessly elegant look the French seemed to pull off without trying.

Laura smiled, squeezing my hand. "Jess, I'd like you to meet Catrina and Ivan," she said, gesturing first to the woman and

WATER IS WINE

then to one of the men, his light eyes warm as he gave me a friendly nod. "And this..." Laura paused slightly, "...is Marcello."

The third man stepped forward, towering over us, his gaze intense. He was dark-haired, with a strong, square jaw, and his eyes were dark-like pools of obsidian that seemed to take in every detail. His face was ruggedly handsome, with just a hint of stubble on his sharp cheekbones. Something in his gaze made me shiver, and I quickly looked away, feeling a bit too seen.

He extended a hand to me, and I managed a small smile as I shook it, his fingers firm and warm. "Marcello is the new owner of the gallery," Laura said, her voice cheerful. "We're so lucky to have him on board."

Marcello inclined his head slightly, his gaze never leaving mine. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Jess."

His accent was thick, his words smooth, and somehow it made my name sound different, softer. I tried to smile, but my mouth. felt dry, or maybe I was nauseous....

We settled into our seats around a large, round table, and while Laura and Catrina started talking about art and the gallery, I found myself uncomfortably aware of Marcello's gaze. Every so often, I'd look up to find him watching me, his expression unreadable, like he was st Laura nudged me with a small smile. "We've been talking about all the gallery updates. You have to meet some of Marcello's artists-they're extraordinary."

Marcello turned his attention fully to me. "So, Jess," he began, his voice as smooth as silk. "Do you like art?"

I opened my mouth to answer, but no words came out. My mind went blank, and my throat

felt like sandpaper. I coughed, reaching for my water glass and feeling my cheeks heat up under his piercing gaze. He raised an eyebrow slightly, his lips quirking as he reached toward me with his glass of wine.

throat? In France, wine is water." he offered,

blurted out, my face flushing as the words slipped out before

to look at me in surprise, and I could

BRUTAL BUT PEMITIFUL

ISLAND VIBES LUKE

little too much force. "Sixty-fucking-four days," he growled, his words as sharp as the blade he gripped. "Who knew. paradise could

focusing on the makeshift roof. "This place is one

sleep in a normal bed for

being in your company for this amount of time." He let out a bitter laugh, and we both knew it

that we'd scoured every inch of the island, hoping to find some way off-or at least some damn sign that we weren't

crap we'd scavenged and a few old journals left behind by a bunch of scientists who, for whatever reason, had ditched this hellhole.

we're stuck here much longer, I'm gonna lose my shit."

14:04M

GLAND VISE

Vouchers

under his breath.

weeks. She held a small fish over her head, grinning like she'd conquered the world. "Guess who just caught dinner?" she called out, practically glowing with pride. Josh

eyes, ignoring his jab as she trudged out of the water, her skin gleaming in the low light. I looked away, swallowing hard. Somehow, even in a place like this, she managed to get under my skin in ways

her voice light but sharp. "Laugh all you want. I'm the one keeping us from starving, so a little respect wouldn't

Sarah. I don't want you thinking you're the new Bear Grylls and getting hurt. I would have

palm tree, rolling his eyes as he watched her

it look easy. You know, living off the land. I'm thankful I could remember how to fish, but I don't think I can do another month of fish and coconut." He shook his head,

14.04

because talking about it made it seem like a real possibility, and then when we were still here a week later, we'd be crushed, so

starting to clean and prep the fish. She moved with this focused determination, ignoring us as she worked like she was tuning out the situation entirely.

shot me a glance that lingered a bit too long, her

she muttered, gutting the fish with

a scalpal and put in stitches. Nobody more skilled than you right now to handle that little fishy." I said, my voice cooler than I intended. Whatever was simmering between us, I shoved it down, ignoring that flash in her eyes. As the night fell and we ate our meager portions, silence settled heavy around the fire. The sounds of the waves were a steady, endless rhythm, a reminder of just how cut off we were. Every so often, Sarah's gaze would drift to

cleared his throat, chuckling darkly as he stared into the flames. "You know, at this rate, one of us

"not sure which is

stifling a weary smile. "Give it another week. I'll

14.04

laughed softly, her voice tinged with a bitter edge. "Well, if

of grim humor, a brief distraction from the reality that was weighing us down like stones. But deep down, I knew we

the last fucking

WATERFALL

288 Wouchero WATERFALL

LUKE

water drown out the world, grounding me in its endless

her core and waking up after dreams of her was driving me crazy. I

as all the tension

grunted and pumped into my fist over and over. My mind had drifted far away to Jess, home, and something that felt like peace. But suddenly, the hairs on the back of my neck

the waterfall, and then I spotted it-blond hair catching in a beam of

called out, straightening up and quickly

cheeks. "I, uh, I wanted to ask you something..." she mumbled, her voice barely