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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here for me or for you? I'm guessing you?"

I shook my head, a small smile tugging at my lips. "He came to apologize for cheating... Imagine that-Josh apologizing and promising to be a better human."

Jess snorted, tossing a piece of popcorn into her 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 the day."

Her words made me 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 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 good guy was a wolf in sheep's clothing or whatever Bryan was?"

We 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. But then I looked at her-really looked at her-and realized how much we'd both grown.

"Can you believe it?" I asked softly. "We were the girls in the. background. The ones no one noticed. And now, somehow, we're here."

Jess turned her head to me, her expression soft. "And we ended

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up falling for the two boys in school who could've had anyone they wanted."

"Yet they chose us," I finished, the words coming out in a quiet whisper.

with a mix of mischief and

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 my entire

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

quietly, my voice barely above a whisper. I leaned my head back, staring at the ceiling as the words left my lips. "I think

against mine. "Well, congratulations. You've reached the point." She grabbed a handful of popcorn and shoved it into her mouth. "Now, do me

JOSH THE PAST

was

the dark kitchen, the weight of the day pressing heavy on my

probably

silence, and dropped into one of the kitchen chairs. My head fell into my hands

sat there, running everything over in my mind, wishing I could go back and undo the past. The image of Laura's face, her tears, her voice when she said, It meant something to me, played on a loop in my head, ripping

became. My hands balled into fists on the table as frustration churned in my chest. I couldn't stop thinking about what I'd done-how I'd. ruined everything we'd had because

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through the front window.

but

sound loud in my ears as I pushed up

the door open,

Laura.

Standing on my doorstep.

the same as she always did-messy ponytail, oversized sweatshirt, and jeans that clung to her legs just right. But there was something different in her eyes. Sadness? Resolve? I couldn't tell, and it scared the hell out of me. "Laura," I said, her name barely a whisper. It felt

Instead, she held

is for you," she said quietly,

it better in the dim light. The brushstrokes were rough but purposeful, carving out the silhouette of a football player on a

be honest,

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My voice trailed off as stared at it, my throat tightening. "This is amazing.

that made my stomach drop. "It's yours. I painted it for you and

truth hit me like a punch to the

a gift. This was

wasn't here to give me a second chance. She wasn't here to talk things through or to forgive me. This was her way of letting me off the

I didn't deserve

able to get

canvas for a moment longer than necessary. When I turned back

know what

1

something

space between us in two quick strides. My hands found her waist, and I

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