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 you? I'm

my lips. "He came to apologize for cheating...

mouth. "I can't believe it. My brother-the macho football player who sleeps with anything that wears a skirt-is now groveling at your feet. I never thought I'd see

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 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

us. For a moment, it felt like we were

in the. background. The ones no one noticed. And now, somehow,

head to me, her expression

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GREEN FLAG

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two boys in

I finished, the words coming

her eyes glinting with a mix

a moment, 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

words, 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 Luke when he screwed up. It wasn't about forgiveness anymore-it was

barely above a whisper. I leaned my head back, staring at the ceiling as the words