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

HOUSES

LUKE

I gripped the steering wheel like it might try to get away from me. Jess sat quietly beside me, her arms crossed as she leaned back against the seat.

"I still don't see why I couldn't drive," she muttered, glancing at me from the corner of her eye.

"Because the last thing I drove was a boat," I replied, my voice dry. "And I just need to drive a car... that works on a smooth road..."

Her lips twitched like she was fighting a smile, but she didn't argue further. We hadn't spoken about the island, but our eyes lingered on Jess, her belly holding my child. Without thinking, I reached out and placed a hand over the one resting on her belly button.

In the back seat, Josh stretched his injured leg out over Laura's lap, his face contorted in discomfort. Laura sat stiffly, adjusting the blanket around his leg for the tenth time. She whispered something to him that made his expression soft-en, but he still looked miserable. I pulled into the driveway and killed the engine, letting out a deep breath as the house came into view. Home.

Jess shifted in her seat but didn't move to get out. Instead, she turned to look at me, her eyes narrowing slightly.

"When were you planning on telling us?"

Her tone was sharp, but Laura chimed in next, her voice eerily in sync with Jess's. "Yeah, when exactly were you going to tell us?"

Josh and I exchanged a glance, completely lost. "Tell you what?" I asked, my brow furrowing.

pointed out the window, her finger trembling slightly as she gestured toward our house-the one I

house, which Josh bought

as her lips trembled. Her eyes shone with tears she hadn't

telling us this?" Jess demand-ed,

scratched the back of his neck, looking everywhere but at the girls. "Uh... I thought I mentioned it?"

snapped, her hands planted firmly on

started to fall, and I

away angrily, sniffling

he was hoping I'd

I cleared my throat, raising my hands

first of all... Surprise." I said carefully, trying

few months ago, having whiskey, and he said something about missing living next to me.

bought were purely selfish decisions." I shrugged,

her voice rising

nodded, shrugging as I forced a smile. "Absolutely nothing to do with starting families next to each other

me like I'd just grown a second head, and her bottom

gaze

laughed. A short, sharp sound that caught me completely off