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

BEHIND THE SCENES LUKE

I shifted uncomfortably in the stiff studio seat, my back sticky against the faux leather. The lights overhead blazed like a furnace, and I could feel the

sweat pooling at the nape of my neck. The host's sugary voice droned on, but it barely registered. I kept glancing at Josh, who looked ready to snap.

When the host cheerfully announced a commercial break, Josh shot up like a spring. "I need a drink. It's Satan's kitchen under these lights," he muttered, striding off toward the nearest exit.

I cleared my throat, trying to loosen the knot in my chest. Beside me, Sarah shifted slightly, her delicate perfume cutting through the sterile air of the studio. She glanced at me, offering a hesitant smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Strange seeing you here, right?" she said softly. "I mean, we

technically lived together for five months, and then I didn't see you at all." Her words trailed off, and she looked away, but not before I caught the flicker of sadness in her eyes.

"You look good," I blurted, the words tumbling out awkwardly. "Better, I mean. You're eating?"

What the actual fuck was that? My brain screamed at me. You're eating? Seriously?

Sarah laughed, the sound breaking the tension. It was light, almost musical, and it eased the tightness in my chest. "Yeah, Luke, I'm eating," she teased, shaking her head. 0.00%

125

AEMPO THE

I exhaled, relieved she wasn't offended by my idiocy. "We owe you our

lives,

know. Both Josh and I." The words came out before I could stop them, and

eyes quickly. "They'd kill me if I cried

muttered, my voice

back in, his sharp gaze immediately clocking the change in

"We said no crying, man. We agreed! Sarah, you can't cry." He pointed at her accusingly, though his tone was more exasperated than anything. "Please, we need to seem like we've got our shit together, or they'll delay me starting rehab until my so-called 'mental state' is better." Sarah chuckled,

his seat, the energy in the room shifting with his presence. "Alright, let's get

the countdown to the next segment began, Saral leaned closer, her voice

my neck, the discomfort crawling up my spine. "I, uh, actually have somewhere I need

I knew I owed her more than a brush-off.

Γ

12

BEHIND THE SCENES

sure." I added hastily, forcing the

the guilt loosened its grip just a little. Josh, seated next to me, caught the exchange and frowned, but

overly chipper as she

quite an experience." She leaned forward, the intensity in her gaze like a predator closing in. "I imagine it brought you

instantly. My jaw tightened

flatly, his

if, given the circumstances, there was... a deeper connection between you all. After all, it's not uncommon in such extreme situations for emotions to run high." "That's ridiculous," I snapped, my voice sharper than I intended. "We were fighting to survive, not filming

"And we're both married, in case you missed that

mask. "Just now, during the break, there seemed to be some real chemistry there. I guess that's what