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

ATTEMPT 1: FAILED LUKE

Sweat dripped down my back as I gripped the base of the raft with Josh, muscles straining with each step. The damn thing was heavier than it looked, and Josh's mood wasn't helping.

Every other minute, he'd mutter some snippy comment, griping about the bamboo ties or the heat or Sarah's plan. If I weren't so focused on keeping my grip steady, I'd have told him to shut the hell up by now.

But one look at Sarah's exhausted face-eyes half-lidded with dark circles-and I bit back my own irritation. As far as a female, trapped on an island with two assholes go- she really has been holding her own, and the only person here with mood swings was Josh. We finally reached the water's edge, and Josh dropped his end of the raft with a grunt. "You think this piece of crap is actually gonna get us anywhere?" he muttered, casting a doubtful look at the slapped-together frame.

I didn't answer, just heaved the thing forward until the calm waves licked at the bamboo. "We'll find out

won't we?"

Sarah folded her arms, eyeing the raft as if sheer willpower could keep it from breaking apart. She sighed, rubbing her temples, but said nothing. She'd put everything into this idea- convinced that if we could just reach that island on the horizon, maybe, just maybe, we'd have a chance at getting rescued.

ATTEMPT FAILED

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I shoved the raft farther into the water and glanced over at Josh. "On three," I said, catching his eye. He rolled his eyes but nodded. "One...two....three."

waded into the water, dragging the raft until it floated on its own, bobbing lightly in the calm waves. By some miracle, it

For now...

at Sarah, who watched with tense eyes, arms wrapped around herself. I

For a second, it almost felt like we'd done it, like we'd actually built something that might carry us off this damn place. So, we did what any sane

looked over at me and winked - "Titanic my ass." Josh muttered, and

onto the raft, feeling the bamboo creak beneath me as I steadied myself, glancing back to

at me.

But a small wave

running through the bamboo as the pressure snapped one of the ties loose. I felt

water. I hit the cold ocean with a smack, swallowing seawater as I

larger pieces, fingers slipping against the wet wood. Josh grabbed another, glaring at me as if this disa When we turned back toward the shore, Sarah stood there, hands on her head, looking more defeated than I'd ever seen.

the water first, dragging the bamboo pieces behind him. His shoulders were tense, and his face was twisted in irritation. The second his feet hit the sand, Sarah's eyes went wide as she took in his leg. She stepped forward, concern flaring up on h "Are

at her, eyebrows

him, already seeing what Sarah had noticed. "Man,

color as he took in the long, jagged scrape running down his calf, blood trickling out and mixing with

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