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. I'd slept

brother, for crying

in my head. His hands, his mouth, the way he'd looked at me like I was the only thing in the

at my reflection in the mirror. My eyes were red-rimmed, my cheeks flushed

leggings and an oversized hoodie before heading downstairs. The kitchen was dark, but I didn't bother turning on the lights. Instead, I moved on autopilot, grabbing the coffee pot and setting it to brew. The soft gurgle of the machine filled the silence, and I leaned against the counter, gripping the

I

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

my head, disgusted with myself. It didn't matter what Josh had said or how he'd made me feel. It could

22.99%

09.15

It wouldn't happen

Jess liked it. I was

her room, sat down, waiting for her. My heart was pounding, my

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

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

tell you something,"

cut me off. "Me first," she said, her voice barely above

swallowed hard,

a deep breath, her hands tightening around the mug. "Bryan... he... he tried

like a freight train, and my stomach

whispered, my

nodded, her lips trembling. "We

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