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

conveniently located right next to her old house, which Josh bought and sold in Laura's name

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

were you planning on telling us this?" Jess

of his neck, looking everywhere but at the girls.

firmly on her hips even though she

I finally turned to look

wiped them away angrily, sniffling as her

he

my throat, raising my

first of all... Surprise." I said

having whiskey, and he said something about missing living next to me. And, well... I felt the same.

purely selfish decisions." I shrugged, giving

repeated, her voice

shrugging as I forced a smile. "Absolutely nothing to do with starting families next to each other or any-thing. Just two guys who didn't

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

tightened as her gaze flicked

A short, sharp sound that caught me completely off