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

AFTER... JESS

The car felt stifling, the air too thick to breathe. I stared out the windshield, watching the ambulance ahead of us, its flashing lights bathing the night in ominous reds and blues. My hands trembled in my lap until Luke grabbed one, his firm grip grounding me just enough to

keep me from spiraling completely.

"She's going to be okay," he said, his voice calm and steady despite the storm swirling around us.

I turned to him, my throat tight, my heart in pieces. "You don't know that."

Luke's jaw clenched, but he didn't respond, his thumb brushing over the back of my hand in quiet reassurance.

Laura had been shot. She had been shot-because of me. Because she tried to save me and the baby. The thought turned my stomach

And Sarah... God, Sarah had been a lunatic. A gun-wielding, delusional lunatic. She'd been in our house, in our lives. How had we missed it? How had I not seen how dangerous she was?

My breath hitched as the tears finally broke free. "When does it end, Luke?" I whispered, my voice cracking. "When do we get our happy ending?"

He didn't answer.

and Luke followed close behind, pulling into

turned as we approached, his face pale and haunted. "They're with her now," he said, his voice hollow. "They said she needs a scan, but they wouldn't let me in. I don't know what's

doctor in scrubs appeared,

forward, his body rigid.

doctor nodded. "We performed an ultrasound, and there's

head. "What the fuck does that even

to take her to the operating room

hit like a punch to the gut. Laura

edges of my vision blurring. Laura could die

1159

I whispered, my voice cracking under the weight of the realization.

a strangled cry, his hands clutching at his hair as though trying to physically keep himself together. I stared at him,

hand was on my arm, steadying me. "Jess, are you okay?" His voice was soft, but there was an

down my cheeks. The ache in my stomach

you look pale," Luke said, his voice rising