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.

out the window, her finger trembling slightly as

to her old house, which Josh bought and sold in Laura's name the same

felt Jess's gaze boring into me as her lips trembled. Her eyes shone

planning on telling us this?" Jess

scratched the back of his neck, looking everywhere but at

planted firmly on her hips even though she was

fall, and I

wiped them away angrily, sniffling as her voice

like he was

cleared my throat, raising my hands in mock

all... Surprise." I said carefully, trying to keep my

I were at an event a few months ago, having whiskey, and he said something about missing living next to me. And, well... I felt the same. That's

bought were purely selfish decisions."

Jess repeated, her voice rising an

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 want

me like I'd just grown a

chest tightened as her gaze flicked to

then she laughed. A short, sharp sound