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

BACK TO REALITY JESS

The aircraft jerked again, a low rumble vibrating through the cabin, and I instinctively tightened my grip on the armrest. Outside the window, the clouds looked dense and grey, swirling as we descended, but i t was the sudden feeling in my chest that had me clutching the armrest with white-knuckled intensity.

"Do you think... do you think this was how they felt?" I murmured, my voice barely audible over the hum of the engines. "That first flicker of panic...

and then everything just....went down." I let out a shaky breath, the weight of those words hanging in the air between us. It wasn't something I thought I'd bring up here, but the sensation clawed at me, an unshakable

• whisper of fear.

Laura blinked, clearly taken aback, her eyes darting to mine with uncertainty. She pressed her lips together, searching for words, but I could tell she didn't have any comforting answers.

"I don't even want to imagine how scared they must have been," she finally said, her voice soft and steady. "I don't think I'd ever be able to..." She trailed off, glancing down, and for a moment, we sat in silence, both caught in our own thoughts. The plane lurched again, a steeper descent this

time, and I heard the murmur of nervous passengers around us. But Laura's hand reached over, wrapping around mine, grounding me. Her fingers squeezed reassuringly, and I took a deep breath, focusing on the warmth of her hand instead of the memories BACK TO REALITY

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pushing into my mind.

voice carrying al determination that helped settle some of the anxiety creeping

but the feeling. lingered, gnawing at the edges of my

she wanted

blinked, surprised. "What

for the first time since we'd taken off, a small smile tugged at her lips. "I...well, he thinks you're the most beautiful woman he's ever met." Her voice

even know what I'm doing half the time. And he thinks I'm be Laura laughed too, the sound of it easy and bright, but she kept her hand on mine, her thumb brushing back and forth. comfortingly. She shook her head, still

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"You are beautiful, Jess. And you're... everything he sees. I mean, he's

back in the seat, "Can't even think about it you know," I murmured, glancing out the window. The clouds had. started to thin, sunlight breaking through as

gaze drifting to

that glimmer of light you seem to be finding. I wish I did. Laura's hand tightened over mine, and I glanced up

who've lost someone they loved too much to ever let go. The hum of the plane faded, every noise blurring into the background. I reached fo shared silence, clinging to each other as-though letting go would send