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

ICE CREAM? JOSH

We stepped out of the restaurant into the warm Texas night, the air thick with the scent of freshly baked dough and city life. Vivien was still smiling, her eyes bright as she glanced up at me.

"That was fun," she said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

I exhaled, running a hand through my hair. "Yeah. It was."

And it was.

It had been a long time since I'd sat across from someone and actually enjoyed myself without guilt clawing at the edges. Vivien was easy to talk to, easy to be around. And fuck if that didn't scare me a little.

The waitress had asked if we wanted dessert, and before I could even consider it, Vivien shook her head. "No, thanks," she said, then turned to me with a playful glint in her eye. "I have ice cream at my place. It's not far if you'd be more interested in dessert... there." I almost choked on my last sip of wine.

She grinned.

I set my glass down and nodded once. "Yeah. Sure."

Deep end it is.

15:05A

ICE CREAM?

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now, the occasional car passing by, headlights sweeping over us. Vivien walked beside me, hands tucked into

Comfortable.

should have been

her door, I hesitated. Not because I didn't want to go inside-I did-but

turned, lifting her

and nodded.

studied me for a second, then smiled, unlocking the door and stepping

And I followed.

a second before following her inside, closing the door

was... not what

my place, where Asha's toys were everywhere, and laundry always seemed to exist in some half-folded limbo. Nothing like the colorful

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I did the same, my fingers

of her shoes hitting the floor echoed softly as she stepped into the kitchen barefoot, her dark hair swaying with each

Two spoons.

No bowls.

making a

followed her to the couch, sitting down

Not too close.

Not too far.

me a spoon without a word, then popped the lid off the ice cream. Cookies and

bite, moaning softly

I clenched my jaw.