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

THE BABY

JESS

The morning sunlight streamed through the thin hotel curtains, casting long streaks of gold across the room, but that's not what woke me up because I wasn't sleeping. The entire night, I lay awake thinking about what could have happened and where he could be. Somewhere, deep down, I knew he was alive, and so was Josh.

They had to be.

I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at my hands, my fingers absentmindedly tracing the faint curve of my belly. I couldn't hide it anymore. I was almost at 3 weeks-and I felt it. Felt him. or her, a tiny heartbeat tied irrevocably to Luke. Luke.

The name lingered in my mind, a sharp ache that pulsed with every breath. He was everywhere and nowhere all at once. My hand automatically reached for my phone to text him before I remembered.

In the hollow silence that filled the space where his laugh used. to be.

the fog.

crossed, her sharp green eyes

me, her knee bumping mine. "You're shutting down again. I get it. I

not ignoring it," I said quietly, though even I didn't believe

sleep, and you refuse to talk

supposed to " My voice cracked and

you don't have to figure it all out today. But right now,

right. As much as it hurt as much as I wanted to curl up and pretend

"I..." I started, hesitating.

gently like she knew I'd give in eventually. "Good, because I already

snapped up. "You

time." She squeezed my hand. "I'll go with you. You