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

I THINK NOT... LUKE

I pulled into Josh's driveway, killing the engine and stepping out into the crisp evening air. Walking around to the passenger side, I opened the door for Sarah. She fumbled with her crutches, her expression expectant as she looked up at me. "You'd better go around the back," I said, my tone flat. "No stairs that way. I think Josh already fixed the shelf."

Sarah nodded, wobbling awkwardly on the crutches as she maneuvered herself toward the backyard. I watched for a second to make sure she wouldn't topple over, then headed. through the front door.

Inside, Josh was waiting for me in the living room, his arms crossed and his face grim.

"Everything okay with Sarah?" he asked, though the tension in his voice said he wasn't really interested in small talk.

"Hairline fracture," I said, dropping my keys onto the counter. "She's got a cast and crutches for seven weeks. Can't work. Won't be moving out anytime soon." I let out a sharp breath, rubbing the back of my neck. Josh's expression darkened further. "We need to talk."

The way he said it made my stomach sink. I followed him into the kitchen, leaning against the counter as he grabbed a beer from the fridge and popped it open.

"That shelf in the pool house?" he started, taking a long swig. "I fixed it."

"And?" I asked, already feeling the knot forming in my gut.

"It was yanked out of the wall," Josh said, his voice low but laced with disbelief. "Bolted in there, Luke. Nothing heavy was on it, nothing that could've ripped it out. It didn't just fall."

tightening on the edge of the counter. "What are

shaking his head. "I'm saying someone tore it out.

my head around it. "That

there's more," Josh interrupted, setting the beer down with a dull thud. "The plumber sent me the report about what went wrong. Said pipes were loose or were loosened- deliberately. That's what caused

running a hand

voice growing harder. "Someone had been messing around in

starting to fit together in a way that

behind this?" I asked, my voice sharp

11

of frustration and suspicion. "I don't know, man, but I think Sarah's playing some kind of game here. And we

trying to ease the pounding headache forming. "She has a fucking fracture, Josh.

like he was debating whether or

"I

got my full attention. My head snapped up, and I locked eyes with

"Tucked behind some

me. My mind raced, running through every possible explanation, but none of