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

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as I

his feet awkwardly.

straightening up and turning to face him. My heart was pounding, but didn't let it show. "I don't need your apology. I don't need anything from you." Tim winced like

a girlfriend, Tim. A girlfriend. Did you even think about

pair he'd worn on our date. It made me hate him

didn't mean for it to happen like that. I just saw you, and you were so... I don't know. I didn't think, I guess.

I get to deal with it. So, congratulations, Tim. You got

past him, heading for

"Laura, wait

I said without turning

eyebrow but said nothing as he rang

1. up.

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

shop, my chest tight and my mind racing. I stopped just outside the door, pinching the bridge of my

to show up

in front of me, steadying me with a

steady, but the tension in it made my

his eyes scanning my

could say more,

sorry!"

froze, my