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

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JESS

THE NOW....

The machines filled the room with their unrelenting hum, the rhythmic beeping of Laura's heart monitor a painful reminder of where we were. She looked so small and fragile in the hospital bed, her body nearly swallowed by the tangle of wires and tubes that kept her alive.

I adjusted the tiny bundle in my arms, rocking gently as I held Laura and Josh's newborn daughter. She squirmed a little, letting out a soft whimper, but soon settled again as I guided the bottle to her lips.

Josh sat beside Laura's bed, his elbows resting on his knees, his head hung low. He hadn't spoken much since we got here. Luke stood behind him, one hand firmly planted on Josh's shoulder as if he were holding him together with sheer willpower.

The door opened, and I glanced up as the surgeon walked in. His face was unreadable as he looked over the machines, checking the monitors before speaking.

"The latest EEG shows no changes," he said, his tone clinical but calm.

Josh's head snapped up, his body tense, and I felt the weight of the moment press down on all of us.

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"In this case," the surgeon continued, "that's actually a good sign. We're keeping her in the coma to allow the swelling to subside. It's the safest approach right now." Josh gave a slight, hollow nod, his shoulders sinking slightly. Luke squeezed his shoulder, murmuring something too low for me to hear.

I focused on the baby, keeping my movements smooth and steady as I rocked her. She was so tiny, so perfect. It broke my heart that Laura couldn't be here to hold her.

Josh glanced at me suddenly, his voice raw. "She... she probably wanted to breastfeed, right?" His words were shaky, like he wasn't sure if he should say them out loud. "She always talked about it."

whole pumping thing kind of freaked her out. She was considering bottles from

his gaze drifting back to

her, the machines monitoring every function of her body. She looked like a shadow of herself, so far removed from the fiery, stubborn Laura

in my arms, shushing softly. I felt Luke's eyes on

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how he gripped his chair's

for myself than anyone. else.

his eyes fixed on Laura's face as if he

his voice steady and low. "You've got to believe that, man. For her.

clenching into fists on his knees.

a soft kiss to the baby's forehead,

got her. Until you're ready, I've got

his words muffled but clear enough to pierce the air. "If I wasn't such an idiot back then... if I'd just told her how I felt sooner, I could've had her from the start. We could've had this life-together- sooner. And

twist as I looked at him, this usually unshakable guy crumbling under the weight of his

have time, man," he said, his voice steady. "There's gonna be time. Going back in your head over and

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to look at Luke. The raw pain in his eyes

over at me, his expression softening

quieter now. "What if she doesn't get that time? What if I don't