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

ESCAPE

JOSH - PRESENT DAY

The daycare parking lot was half-empty by the time I pulled up, late as usual. The setting sun cast long shadows over the playground, and I could see a few lingering toddlers wobbling around as teachers corralled them toward their waiting parents.

Asha's little face brightened when she spotted me through the window. She pressed her chubby hands against the glass, her tiny nose scrunching up in excitement. Guilt stabbed through me. She deserved better than a father who was constantly distracted, constantly exhausted, constantly angry at the world.

I barely managed a smile as I stepped inside. Miss Worth- Vivien-was kneeling beside Asha, helping her into her little pink sneakers. The sight of her made my jaw tighten. She looked up, and the moment our eyes met, something in my chest twisted. Hazel eyes, soft but assessing, framed by a cascade of dark curls.

Nothing about her reminded me of Laura. That's what made it worse.

"Daddy!" Asha's little legs carried her forward in an unsteady run, her arms outstretched. I bent down, scooping her up before she could trip over her own feet. She buried her face in my neck, her warm breath tickling my skin.

"Hey, baby girl," I murmured, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. She smelled like baby shampoo and finger paint.

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Vivien straightened, brushing her hands against her skirt. "Rough day?" she asked, her voice careful.

I exhaled sharply. "Something like that."

not pushing. "Asha had a good

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tear in Asha's little white

My voice came out sharper than I intended, and Asha flinched slightly in my arms. Vivien's

got a little tangled up on the jungle

oblivious to my rising frustration, wiggled in my arms. "Snack, Daddy?" she

shouldn't be getting 'tangled up' at all," I snapped. "Isn't someone supposed to

!

"Josh, we do watch her. It's a playground.

But I was pissed at the universe, at myself,

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hesitated like she wanted to say something, but then

answer. I just turned on my heel and left, buckling Asha into her car seat as she babbled to

managed to get Asha bathed and into bed, I sat on the couch, staring at

name flashed on

realized how much I fucking liked looking at her. Since the moment I realized how wrong it felt, how much it felt like a betrayal. Since I palmed my own cock to

update from the doctors had been predictable

1.

pissed. Pissed that my wife was gone in every way that mattered, pissed that my daughter might never know her mother, pissed that I

woman.