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

BOAT?

LUKE

The airport buzzed with noise: loudspeaker announcements, the shuffle of travelers, and the occasional burst of laughter from a group of tourists who had no idea what it meant to lose. themselves on an island and then claw their way back. I stood near the departure gate They'd promised us an air ambulance initially, the kind of thing you see in movies with flashing lights and medical

professionals hovering over you. But Josh, somehow, had a miraculous turnaround, thanks to the mangoes and his strange ability to sweet-

talk every nurse into treating him like royalty. His leg, which had been an infection waiting to spiral out of control, was now on the mend.

When they told us we didn't need the air ambulance anymore, Josh had shrugged like it wasn't a big deal, but Sarah? She nearly lost it. A private charter was suggested next, but it didn't take much to see the way Josh's jaw tensed at the thought of another small plane. The man had survived a crash; no way was he voluntarily boarding anything with a propeller.

I tried convincing the authorities that a boat made the most sense, but if I was being honest, a boat didn't sound any better. They settled on a commercial flight, with the promise of a

111

bigger plane to ease their nerves

how we ended up

how this was still a terrible idea before

ease. Too at ease. He sat next to me, sipping champagne like we were on a luxury vacation instead

for

I asked, breaking the

it. The trauma, the fear, the exhaustion that no amount of mangoes or foot massages could fix. It was there, just beneath the surface,

to say her name. We both knew

he could ever know. As much as he

more.

29.937

he'd been through were written up there. The flight attendant came by to refill his glass, and he waved her off, his fingers drumming against the armrest. I stayed quiet, letting him have his moment. What the hell was I supposed to say? I understood how badly he needed to see

wanted to see Jess

window at the clouds rolling by.

a soft mumble that I couldn't make out. Josh looked over at her, then back at me. "She's tougher than she looks,"

be. That