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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for you? I'm

"He came to apologize for cheating...

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

her head back and laughed, the sound filling the room and easing some of the tension in my chest. "Okay, fine, I' Il give you that. Luke really did come out of left field. Who would ve thought the asshole was really the good guy, and the

both laughed then, leaning into each other like we used to back 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 the background.

girls in the. background. The ones no

to me, her expression soft. "And we

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two boys in school who could've had anyone

I finished, the words coming

glinting with a

the weight of it all settling between us. I felt her shift beside me, and when I glanced at her, she was watching me carefully. "Look," she started, her tone softer now. "I'can't tell you what to do, Laura. It's your heart. But... I've known Josh

and my throat felt like it was closing up. I knew what she was saying. I knew what Josh had said. And, deep down, I knew I'd already forgiven him. Just like Jess had already forgiven

whisper. I leaned my head back, staring at the ceiling as the words left my lips. "I think I always knew I would. I just... needed time to