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

LUKE

The nurse tugged at the bandages on my shoulder, her hands careful but firm, though each motion sent a dull throb through my arm. I tried to sit still, but the discomfort made my jaw clench. "How did I even injure this arm?" I muttered, staring at the ceiling, searching for memories that felt as hazy as a dream. "I don't remember anything."

From the doorway, Sarah's voice rang out, full of smug

amusement. "You don't remember?" She stepped closer, hands on her hips like she was about to scold me.

I turned my head, squinting at her. "Should I?"

She sighed, dramatic as ever. "You fell off the damn boat, Luke. You were flailing around like an idiot in the water while the current tried to swallow you whole."

That... sounded about right.

Sarah didn't stop there. "I had to tie a rope around myself and dive in after you. Dragging your dead weight back onto the boat wasn't exactly easy, so yeah, maybe I wrenched your arm a little."

I blinked at her, stunned. "You... you risked your life for me?"

She scoffed, but there was something softer in her eyes. "Don't

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make it weird. Someone had to save your sorry

I stared at her, words failing me. Thank you," I said finally, but the words felt small and insignificant. How do you thank someone for something like that?

brushing it off. "You'd

so sure, but I didn't argue. Instead, I watched her straighten, her tone shifting. "Anyway, I just

I sat up straighter, wincing as the nurse resumed

Sarah said, grinning.

home."

words hung in the air for a moment, almost too good to

"Seriously?"

grin widened. "An air ambulance will be here tomorrow to

laugh that comes when you don't know

on," she said, motioning toward the door. "Let's go tell the mango addict

off the bed, my shoulder protesting with every move, but I

propped up on a pillow that balanced on a nurse's shoulder while another nurse massaged his feet. A pile of mango peels sat beside him, evidence of his ongoing obsession. "How the

He popped another piece of mango into his mouth, his

my head. "Of course

said something in the

say?" Sarah asked,

sure she

eyes. "Or

ignored her, lounging back like

"So, Luke, you still don't remember

thought about it, the memory refusing to come together clearly. "No. It's all... fragmented.

said simply. "The waves freaked you out, and you didn't think. Next thing I know, you're overboard."

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