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

ALL MY FAULT LAURA

Josh stepped closer, his movements deliberate but hesitant, as if he was afraid of doing more damage. "Let me take you to the emergency room," he said, his voice soft but firm.

I shook my head, keeping the ice pressed to my face. "It's not necessary."

"It's not your call, Laura," he shot back, his tone sharpening just a little, frustration creeping in. His hand reached out, thumb and fingers gently cupping my chin. The warmth of his touch sent a jolt through me, and despite the ache in my nose, my body betrayed me. I tilted my head slightly into his hand, drawn to him in a way I couldn't quite explain.

My eyes met his. His ocean-blue gaze was stormy, filled with emotions I couldn't untangle. His brows furrowed as he tilted my face, assessing the damage. I saw the muscle in his jaw tick, his lips pressed into a thin line.

"Fuck it," he muttered under his breath. "I can't believe I..." His words trailed off, and I could see the storm inside him brewing, a mix of anger, guilt, and disappointment.

I wanted to say something, anything, to ease the weight I could. see on his shoulders, but the words stuck in my throat. He blamed himself-I could see it so clearly.

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"Josh, it wasn't your fault," I whispered. My voice was steady, but the tears threatened to spill.

His eyes flicked to mine, the guilt intensifying in their depths. He leaned forward, dropping his forehead to mine. The closeness. stole my breath, his exhale warm against my skin,

murmured, his voice cracking slightly. "If I'd kept my ego in check, your face wouldn't have a bruise forming. It wouldn't be bloodied. This is on

the cool cotton of his shirt grounding me. My fingers curled slightly, holding onto him as though I could anchor us both. "I promise, I'm fine," I said, my

falling away from my chin. The distance felt immediate and

on mine. "You were scared. Of me. I saw it, and I can't

voice broke

he cut me

eyes. "Don't try to make me feel better. I need to sit with this because I can't

I flinched because adrenaline was

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ALL MY FAULT

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and because... well, because it was a reflex." My voice trembled slightly, but I pushed forward. "It wasn't because of you.

even horror. It was like he was seeing me for the first

Not Jess, not Sam-no one. Nobody knew what really happened during those years when my mother brought men home, one after another. Nobody needed to know who took the

I begged them to keep it down so I could

learned that silence was safer than fighting

through-shattered, maybe-but I made

he wanted to reach for me but wasn't sure he should.

knew would be there. "It doesn't matter now," said quickly, trying to brush it off, but my voice wavered. "I'm fine. I've been fine for a

cutting through the space