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

OVERTHINKING

LAURA

It had been a whole week of awkward glances and total silence between Josh and me. Every time I passed him in the halls, he'd look at me-just for a second-and then immediately look away, like I was something too painful or shameful to face. The worst part? It didn't matter. Not really. Because no matter how much I wanted to believe otherwise, Josh would never see me the way I saw him.

dragged my books closer to my chest as I walked past him again. He was leaning against the lockers, laughing at something one of his friends said. The sound of his laughter made my chest tighten, even though I knew better. He didn't see me. Not really.

That night at the party-God, what was I thinking? Josh was drunk, and I was just... almost. Almost a convenient fuck. The kind of girl you don't remember in the morning because she didn't mean anything. And then that night at my house-he only stayed because he felt guilty. He hit me. It was an accident, but still... He stayed because he felt bad, not because he wanted to.

He didn't stay because he liked me. Or because he thought I was worth his time. It was guilt. Plain and simple. And I needed to stop torturing myself by hoping it was anything else.

"Laura!" Jess's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I turned to see her and Sam walking toward me, Jess with her signature unimpressed expression and Sam grinning ear to ear like she

0.00%

OVERTHINKING

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had just won the lottery.

announced, practically bouncing on her feet.

asked, arching

thing in the world. "It's going to be amazing. Hot boys running into each other over some stupid ball. Plus, there's an afterparty. With more boys. Boys not from this godforsaken school." Jess groaned. "Why do you

hate football," Sam said, waving her off, "but you don't hate parties. And there will be cute guys there. Guys who don't know every embarrassing thing about us because they don't go

flatly, crossing her arms. "You two go have fun. I'll be at home with

attention to me, her eyes sparkling with determination. "You're coming,

thing. Especially not after the last one. And

me, was about as appealing as swallowing nails. But the way Sam looked

forcing a small

together like she had

OVERTHINKING

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victory. "You won't regret it.

said, raising an

been sulking all week, and Jess, you-well, you're always moody, especially when

it was a lie. I'd been sulking, all right. Sulking, overthinking, replaying every awkward moment

scream.

are," Sam said, not unkindly. "And that's okay. But this weekend, we're changing that. New boys,

get over someone who was never yours in the first place? How