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

NEW LIFE

288 Vouchers

NEW LIFE

JOSH PRESENT DAY

The beer was hitting harder than expected, but I didn't mind. For once, I felt... something. The edges of guilt and grief dulled, like the alcohol was lubricating the parts of me that had been stuck for so long.

I found myself outside the bar, phone in hand, staring at Luke's name on the screen. My thumb hovered over the call button. I wasn't sure what I wanted to say or if he'd even answer, but before I could overthink it, I hit call. It rang twice before he picked up.

"Josh?" His voice was cautious, like he wasn't sure why I'd be calling after all this time.

"Yeah, it's me," I said, leaning against the side of the building. The cool night air helped clear my head, but my heart was pounding. "I, uh... I needed to talk."

There was a pause on the other end. I could hear faint sounds of his house-dishes clinking, the muffled sound of Jess talking in the background.

"Alright," Luke said finally. "Talk."

I let out a shaky breath, staring up at the Texas sky. It was filled with stars, the kind you only saw when you were far from the

city.

10:53

NEW LIFE

288 Nouchers

not being stuck like I probably should be. For not staying there with her." My voice broke, but I pushed through. "But if I stayed, Luke, I never would've surfaced. I would've drowned in it, and Asha... she would've been dragged down with me. I fucking ran away, okay? I know that. I know I ran, but I did it for her-for Asha. To give her a chance at something better than a dad who's a wreck because his wife... because Laura isn't

heavy in the air, and I braced myself for Luke's judgment, for him to tell me what a coward I

to my surprise, he said, "I

phone pressed against

do what was best for Asha and for yourself. And when you're ready to come back and face the hard decisions about Laura... we'll be here for you." He paused, and I could hear him take a deep breath. "Josh, you deserve happiness, man. You deserve to feel

my lips, taking a long sip to avoid saying anything stupid. The tears were there, welling up in my eyes, but I blinked them away. "Thanks,

Luke said. "You know where to

10:53

NEW LIFE

288 Vouchers

ended the call and stared up at the sky

were trying to

have to believe you'd want me to be happy, babe,"

this is the first

the rest of my beer, holding up

Come on, man!" Mateo's voice called from the bar, snapping me out

in my chest easing just a little.

toward the bar, pushing open the door with more force than I meant to. As I stepped inside, I collided with someone-a small figure barreling out as I was walking in. She yelped, stumbling back, but I caught her easily, my hands wrapping around her arms before she

that," I said, steadying