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

COOKIES

LUKE

Darkness swallowed me whole.

The water was frigid, cutting into my skin like shards of broken glass. I fought to find the surface, my arms thrashing through the black abyss. My chest burned, my lungs clawing for air, but no matter how hard I kicked. I couldn't tell which way was up. I was lost.

Panic wrapped around me like chains, dragging me deeper. The cold pressed in on all sides, suffocating and relentless. Jess's face flashed in my mind-her smile, her laugh, the way she looked at me like I was worth something. I'd never see her again.

The thought was more suffocating than the water filling my lungs.

I was drowning.

My chest seized, my heart pounding like a drum, faster, harder-until suddenly, everything stopped.

I jerked awake, snapping back to reality like a ripcord yanked too hard.

Air rushed into my lungs, sharp and hot, and I doubled over, my palms finding the wooden floor. It was cool beneath my palms and real. Rock solid and real.

My chest heaved as I fought to breathe, my skin slick with sweat.

17.560

COOKIES

288 Mouchers

me trembled, the nightmare's icy grip

wasn't real. It was

it in through my nose and

trying to shake off the lingering echoes. of the cold.

warm, sweet smell.

Cookies?

myself back onto the couch and looked around. It was dark outside. I must have passed out on the couch, so I made a mental note to drag Jess back to this couch for something other than sleeping. The reality of my surroundings settled in slowly-Jess's touch everywhere, from the soft throw blanket draped over

This was home.

the couch, I stood and made my way toward the kitchen. The sound of her

spoon to her chest like a

and the tension in my chest eased a little. "I didn't mean to scare you,"

scare me okay, maybe just a

COOKIES

288 Vouchers

replied, leaning against the

her blue eyes sparkling with

teased, arching a

one of my T-shirts, although she's been wearing it a lot, it seems. Even with her pregnant belly,

you are in that t-shirt?" I asked, leaning over the dining

you want cookies for dinner, you can just say so-no need to filter me. I'm basically

but that's not what you look like to me. I'd choose you over a chocolate chip cookie