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

WHIPLASH

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WHIPLASH

LAURA

The door had barely clicked shut behind Josh when my mother turned to me, her eyes glassy and unfocused. The smell of vodka clung to her like a second skin. I stood frozen, still reeling from the whirlwind of emotions that had followed Josh's visit. My cheek throbbed where the ice pack had once rested, and the dull ache in my nose pulsed in time with my heartbeat.

"You didn't have to embarrass me like that," I said quietly, my voice barely above a whisper. But I wasn't quiet enough.

My mother let out a sharp laugh, the kind that always set my nerves on edge. "Oh, please, Laura. Don't be so dramatic. I was just having a little fun."

"Fun?" I repeated, incredulous. "You were hitting on Josh! A boy from my school. He's my age, Mom!"

She shrugged, pouring herself a glass of something amber from the cabinet, her movements too careless to be sober. "So what? He's cute. And he seemed interested."

I stared at her, my mouth opening and closing as I tried to find the right words. "You're unbelievable," I finally managed. "Do you even hear yourself? He was uncomfortable! He didn't know how to handle you because you're-you're an adult! You're supposed to be the one setting an example!"

She took a sip of her drink, her expression indifferent. "Don't

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WHIPLASH

I've had a long

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uncontrollable. "Of course, I wouldn't understand! I'm not the one getting drunk in restaurants and bringing

so much better than me? Sitting here

burned in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. "This house is the only thing keeping you here. If Dad hadn't put it in my name, you'd have sold it

echoed through the room, and I stumbled back, the pain radiating from my already sore nose down to my jaw. The world seemed to stop for a moment, and all I could hear was the ringing in my

the tender skin. Tears blurred my

I whispered, my voice shaking with the effort it took to keep from breaking.

just another inconvenience in her already miserable day. Without a word, she

WHIPLASH

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pouring herself another drink as if nothing

the weight of everything I wanted to say but couldn't.

followed me to my room, where I shut the door and locked it behind me. I leaned against it, my hand still pressed to my throbbing cheek, and let out a shaky breath. This was

cold a welcome distraction from the pain and humiliation swirling inside me. My thoughts drifted to Josh, his piercing blue eyes and how he'd looked at me earlier like he wanted to fix everything. And then the way