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

DATE NIGHT LAURA

Friday evening came quicker than I expected, and now I was standing in Jess's room, staring at myself in her mirror while she curled the ends of my hair.

"Hold still," Jess scolded, waving the hot iron at me.

"Sorry," I muttered, trying not to fidget. My palms were clammy, and my stomach twisted in knots.

"Why are you so nervous? It's just a date," Sam chimed in from the bed, where she was scrolling on her phone.

"Because," I said, sighing. "It's not just a date. It's... a first date."

Jess smirked, releasing another curl and fluffing it out. "And with an art guy, no less. I still can't believe you managed to find someone who shares your... passion for brushes and stuff."

I bit back a groan. They had no idea this whole date was almost a lie and that this guy came out of nowhere to save my ass.

Sam threw her phone down and grinned. "Relax, you'll be fine. Besides, you're totally pulling off that dress."

I glanced down at the pale green sundress Jess had practically forced me into. The fitted waist and flowy skirt were flattering, sure, but the neckline dipped a little lower than I was used to. "Maybe I should wear something else," I mumbled, tugging at

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DATE NIGHT

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the hem.

Jess rolled her eyes.

again. Trust me,

Tim's going to

echoed from the backyard, breaking our focus. I glanced toward the window, my heart sinking when I saw the familiar figures splashing in

Luke. And a

I groaned, leaning against the

night," Jess said with a shrug just as irritated about

I

the window and snorted. "Look at

He was leaning against the edge of the pool, water dripping from his hair as one of the cheerleaders-Madison, of course-laughed too loudly at something he said. A familiar swirl of

being...

a date, Laura. Focus on that, not whatever

needed to focus.

DATE NIGHT

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about proving to myself-and everyone else that I could

it was built on a tiny web

this way!

the window. "Let's finish this. Tim's picking me up in an

raised an eyebrow. "You sure you're

nodded, forcing a smile.

catching Josh's gaze for the briefest of moments, I couldn't shake the feeling that this night

up in front of Jess's house right on time, his pickup truck gleaming under the porch light. The faint hum of

he said, hopping out and circling the truck to open the door for

"Thanks. You clean up pretty well