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

FADE AWAY

JOSH

The roar of the crowd was deafening as I ran onto the field, the cold air biting at my skin. The stakes were higher than ever-this game would decide whether we went to the Super Bowl. My mind was laser-focused, but not on the right things.

The tension inside me had been building for weeks, maybe months. Every time I thought about Laura, lying in that bed, motionless, something inside me twisted, turned sharp. I channeled it all into the game, into every snap, every hit. And maybe I was taking it too far. "Josh, man," Luke jogged up to me during a huddle, lowering his voice. "You good? You've been off today."

"Just focus on the game, Luke," I snapped, not bothering to look at him.

Luke frowned but nodded, backing off.

When the play restarted, I was on fire, charging down the field with an intensity that bordered on reckless. The opposing defender squared up to block me, and I didn't just push past him-I drove into him, shoulders low, practically throwing him to the ground. The refs blew the whistle, flags flying everywhere.

"Unnecessary roughness, offense, number 86!"

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FADE AWAY

288 Vouchers

Luke was in my face before I could even step off the field. "What the hell was that?" he barked, grabbing my jersey to pull me back as tempers flared on both sides.

I shrugged him off, glaring. "Back off, Luke."

"Josh-"

"I said back off!"

the field, benching me for the rest of the game. I sat there on the sidelines, seething. The game unfolded without me, but in the end, we

room was buzzing with excitement, guys laughing, celebrating, the energy electric. I toweled off, keeping to myself. When

slung over his shoulder. "Yeah, man. Jess is cooking dinner. Gotta get back to her and the

"Nah, I'm good. Asha's with

home?

shot him a glare, my jaw tightening. "You know I can't go back there, Luke.

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FADE AWAY

289 Vouchers

"She's alive, Josh."

my voice rising. "She's never fucking waking

eyes on me. I didn't care. I

the face. I stood there for a moment, my chest heaving, trying to calm down. But

alive. But it

car, my phone buzzed in my pocket. Pulling it out, I saw a text from the

bed. She asked about you, and when you're coming home. Also... she asked when she can

shaky breath, staring at the screen. It felt like a punch to the gut. Asha was three. Too

didn't know what to type. What could I say? That I couldn't face it? That I didn't know how to be enough for her when I felt like I was failing

the phone back in my pocket and leaned against the

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