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

GREEN FLAG

LAURA-STILL IN THE PAST

I leaned back against the door as it clicked shut behind Josh, the weight of the conversation pressing down on me like a heavy blanket. My hands trembled slightly, and I pressed them flat against the cool surface of the door, trying to ground myself. What the hell had just happened?

The words Josh had said swirled in my head, their rawness, the honesty-it had cracked something open in me. I should've been furious, should've slammed the door in his face the moment he confessed, but instead, I felt... lighter. Like the pieces of my heart that had been broken were slowly coming back together, even though I wasn't sure if I wanted them to.

"Josh?" Jess's voice rang out from the couch, startling me.

I turned to see her sprawled out with a blanket over her legs and a bowl of popcorn on her lap. Her eyes darted to me, her brows raised. "Wait, was that my idiot brother? What the hell is he doing here?"

I took a shaky breath, walking over to the couch. I plopped down beside her, letting out a soft laugh that I wasn't sure was from nerves or genuine amusement. "Yeah. That was your idiot brother."

Jess smirked, leaning her head back against the couch. "Was he

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GREEN FLAG

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for me or for

to apologize for cheating... Imagine that-Josh

of popcorn into her mouth. "I can't believe it. My brother-the macho football player who sleeps

laugh, the sound soft and unsure. "Honestly, I didn't think I'd ever see it either. The biggest walking red flag in school, and here he is... suddenly a green flag?" I glanced at her, raising an eyebrow. "Though, to be fair, Luke surprised you just as much." Jess threw her head back and laughed, the sound filling the room and easing some of the tension

in high school when we'd giggle over stupid things, utterly oblivious to the chaos around us. For a moment, it felt like we were those girls again, two wallflowers blending into

it?" I asked softly. "We were the girls in the. background. The ones no one noticed.

turned her head to me,

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GREEN FLAG

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in school who could've had anyone they

finished, the words coming out in a

smiled, her eyes glinting with a mix of

started,

knew what she was saying. I knew what Josh had said. And, deep down,

head back, staring at the ceiling as