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.

fog. "Jess? Are you even

the window, arms crossed, her sharp green eyes

mine. "You're shutting down again. I get it.

not ignoring it," I said quietly,

sleep, and you refuse to talk about..." She gestured vaguely at my stomach.

to do this, Laura. Any of it. How am I supposed to " My voice cracked and I

have me. And you don't have to figure it all out today.

staring at the floor. She was right. As much as it

"I..." I started, hesitating.

knew I'd give in eventually. "Good, because

head snapped

weeks, Jess. It's time." She