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

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JESS

Walking into Laura's hospital room was like stepping into another world-one that felt suspended in time. The sterile beeping of the machines filled the space, a constant reminder of how fragile everything was. Luke's hand brushed against mine as we entered, our daughter

holding tightly to my other hand, her little fingers wrapped around mine for comfort.

Josh was sitting in the corner, cradling his baby girl. The sight was enough to crack my already fragile composure. He rocked back and forth in the chair, his eyes locked on the tiny bundle in his arms. His lips moved, murmuring something soft and reverent, and it wasn't until I moved closer that I could hear him.

"She's so perfect," he whispered, his voice cracking. He didn't look up, and he hadn't noticed us yet. His entire world was in that child-and in Laura, lying so still in the hospital bed. "She has to wake up. I can't do this without her. I need her. I need her with me." The words were like a punch to my gut. I swallowed hard, trying to keep my own emotions in check.

Luke gave my shoulder a gentle squeeze before walking over to Josh. He crouched down beside his best friend and placed a firm hand on his shoulder. "Josh, you've been here all night," Luke said softly. "Why don't you let me take her for a bit? Go home and have a shower. Eat something. We'll be right here when you get back. I promise."

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feature. He hesitated, clutching his daughter closer for a moment. "I don't want to leave her," he muttered, his

to her like this. She's going to need you to be strong when she wakes up.

heavily. "Okay," he said finally, standing slowly. He handed his baby girl to Luke with a tenderness that nearly broke me. Watching him relinquish her felt

as if he was afraid

he murmured. "Don't wake

and he clutched it tightly, his thumb brushing over her knuckles. The sight of him-this strong, proud man brought to his knees by love and fear-shattered my heart into a thousand

to leave, he paused when he reached me. "Call me if anything changes," he said. "I'll be

couldn't just let him walk out without some kind of reassurance. Reaching out, I took his arm and pulled him into a

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going to be okay," I

but didn't say anything. When he finally pulled back, there was a flicker of something in his eyes-hope, maybe, or just the tiniest sliver of strength. He gave me a weak smile before

now, honey," I said softly to my daughter, guiding her toward

onto the chair beside the bed. Her small hand reached out

glanced at me from across the room, his expression unreadable as he held Josh's baby. He was so good at this- steady and calm in the face of chaos. It was one of

to be okay," he said quietly, echoing the words I'd just said to Josh. This