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

GUILT LAURA

I closed the door to Josh's room as quietly as I could, my chest heaving like I'd just run a marathon. My legs felt shaky, my hands trembling as I pressed them against the cool wood for support. The air in the hallway was stifling, thick with everything. I'd just done. What the hell was wrong with me?

I was supposed to be here for Jess. Jess. My best friend. And instead, I'd—

My stomach churned violently, and I bit down on my lip hard enough to taste blood. I needed to move. I needed to do something, anything, to wash away the guilt clawing its way up my throat.

I stumbled down the hall and into the bathroom, shutting the door behind me. The sound of the lock clicking into place gave me a fleeting sense of security, but it was quickly replaced by the suffocating weight of my actions.

I turned the shower on full blast, not waiting for the water to warm up. The icy spray hit my skin, and I gasped, but I didn't step away. Instead, I grabbed the loofah and soap and scrubbed. Hard.

It wasn't enough.

No matter how much I washed, no matter how red my skin

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09:15

GUILT

288 Noucher's

couldn't rid myself of the shame.

for

the way he'd looked at me like I was the only thing in the world that mattered. For a moment, I'd

did little to cleanse the guilt, but I finally stepped out, wrapping a towel around myself as I stared at my reflection in the mirror. My eyes were red-rimmed, my cheeks flushed from the heat

but I didn't bother turning on the lights. Instead, I moved on autopilot, grabbing the coffee pot and

could I have done

her life, and I'd repaid her by crossing the one line I

myself. It didn't matter what Josh had

22.99%

09.15

wouldn't happen

cups, adding cream and sugar to one just the way Jess liked it. I was going to tell her. She deserved to know the

down, waiting for her. My heart

eyes rimmed with exhaustion. She stopped when she saw me sitting there, and for a moment, I thought she could see right through me.

the chair across from me, wrapping her hands around the cup but not drinking. She

to tell you something,"

first," she said,

hard, nodding.

around the mug. "Bryan... he... he

hit me like a freight

whispered,

her lips trembling. "We went to the park after

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