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

SUPRISE JESS

The cab jostled over a pothole, and I glared at Luke as he gripped the door with white-knuckled intensity, his jaw so tight I thought he might crack a tooth. "Are you actually serious?" I blurted, my voice rising above the low hum of the engine.

Without looking at me, Luke nodded, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. "We sort it out when we get back," he said through clenched teeth, his tone final.

I stared at him, my mouth falling open. "Sort it out? Sort it out?" I echoed, incredulous. "Luke, has my brother completely lost his mind? Did someone schedule a CT scan for him because what the actual fuck was he thinking? Telling Sarah she can stay with him? He barely knows her! Well-other than being marooned on an island, I mean."

Luke sighed, his grip on the wheel relaxing slightly as he

glanced at me. "I know," he said, his tone softer now, though his frustration was still evident.

I threw my hands up in exasperation, the seatbelt cutting into my shoulder. "You know? That's all you've got? Luke, this is insane! She's... she's a stranger, basically! And "

"She saved our lives, Jess," he interrupted, his voice quiet but firm, cutting through my rant.

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That stopped me short, my anger faltering as I saw the way his shoulders sagged, the weight of everything pressing down on him. "Luke..."

He shook his head, rubbing a hand over his face. "Josh means well, okay? He's just... trying to do the right thing. She's struggling, Jess. Lost her apartment, drowning in debt. She didn't ask for this mess either."

I folded my arms across my chest, staring out the window as the city lights blurred past. "And that's awful, but inviting her to live with him? Didn't they give her the same payout as you? She should have gotten money?"

Luke huffed out a breath, glancing at me briefly before turning back to the road. "She had debt - things she needed to pay - I don't know. What do you want me to do? Tell her to suck it up and figure it out on her own?" "No, but "I paused, biting my lip. I didn't have an easy answer either, and that frustrated me even more.

time. "Look, I get why you're pissed. Trust me, I'm not thrilled about

and rubbing my temples. "Together," I muttered, more to myself than to

balloons-dozens of them-arched into a pink

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SUPRISE

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He was already shaking his head, his lips twitching like he

all out," he said, pushing open his

of the cab, Laura waved enthusiastically, practically bouncing

trying and failing to look casual, but the smug grin

are there balloons in my yard?" I asked, arching a

we're celebrating, obviously," Laura said, grabbing my hand and dragging me toward the house before I

followed behind, clapping Luke on the shoulder.

⚫ man. You ready?"

wary look but didn't respond, which only made Josh grin

Both sides of the room were decorated in an elaborate pink-and-blue theme, a literal line dividing the counters. On one side, everything was pink-cupcakes, flowers, streamers, even plates and napkins. On the other, it was all blue, with

Josh leaned casually against the blue counter. Both of them stared at

SUPAISE

between them.

sighed, unable to hold back a smile as I placed a hand on

let out an ear-piercing squeal, jumping up and down in triumph. Before I could react, Luke reached over to the blue side, grabbed one of the cakes, and unceremoniously

against the counter.