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

TIM

LAURA STILL STUCK IN THE PAST...

The smell of paint and varnish hung heavy in the air as I stood in the corner of the shop, scanning the shelves. I'd been here for what felt like forever, searching for the perfect sage green. Every shade I picked up was either too minty or too dull. Maybe I'd have to mix it myself.

The bell above the door jingled, but I didn't bother looking up. Customers came and went all the time in this place, and I never noticed them-not until Tim. Which was a massive mistake-huge-one I won't be repeating anytime soon.

I crouched down to check the bottom shelf, brushing my hair out of my face. Just as I grabbed another swatch of green, a voice floated over to me.

His voice.

"Laura?"

I froze, my hand hovering mid-air. For a second, I thought I might've imagined it, but when I glanced up, there he was. Tim.

He stood a few feet away, his hands shoved into his pockets, looking every bit as sheepish as I'd expected.

I didn't want to do this. Not here. Not now.

1225 TM

11 288 Vouchers

Tim," I said, keeping my voice steady as I

feet awkwardly. "Laura, please. I

need your apology. I don't need anything

I cut him off, my voice rising. "You have a girlfriend, Tim. A girlfriend. Did you even

the same stupid pair he'd worn on

and you were so... I don't know. I didn't think, I guess. I

head. "Well, it did. And now I get to deal with it. So, congratulations, Tim. You got what you, wanted, and I got to be the idiot who fell for

and brushed past him, heading for the counter. My

"Laura, wait

without turning around. "Just...

an eyebrow but said

1. up.

felt his eyes on me, but I didn't look back. I couldn't. I'd spent enough time letting

chest tight and my mind racing. I stopped just outside the door,

did he have to show

stepped in front of me,

okay?" Josh's voice was low and steady, but the tension in it

up, and there he was, his eyes scanning my

could say more, the door banged open behind

I'm sorry!" Tim's

froze, my stomach