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

1224

DATE NIGHT

1288/Vouchers

the hem.

Jess rolled her eyes.

not changing again. Trust me,

going to love

backyard, breaking our focus. I glanced toward the window, my heart sinking when I saw the familiar

a gaggle of

leaning against the window frame. "They're still

night," Jess said with

I

the window and snorted.

flicked to Josh without meaning to. 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 emotions rose in my chest. Annoyance.

get tired of being... them?" I asked, trying to

cares? You have a date, Laura. Focus on

I needed to focus. Tonight

DATE NIGHT

288 Vouchers

to myself-and everyone else that I

if it was built on a tiny

this way!

window. "Let's finish this.

an eyebrow. "You sure you're

forcing a

window one last time, catching Josh's gaze for the briefest of moments, I couldn't

front of Jess's house right on time, his pickup truck gleaming under the porch light. The faint hum of the engine was the only sound as I

the truck to open the door for

head, my cheeks warming. "Thanks. You