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

FLASHBACK

JESS

Running with Luke had always been one of my favorite things, but today felt different.

He seemed tense, his stride steady but his jaw tight, like he was lost in his own thoughts. | couldn't help but

glance at him as we kept up a casual pace. The late afternoon sun painted everything in soft gold, and | couldn't

shake the feeling that something was on his mind. "What's wrong?" | finally asked, breaking the rhythm of our

steady breathing.

He looked over at me, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes. "Nothing," he said, his voice a little too casual. "Just

hoping Josh gets drafted back to the team next season. | miss playing with him."

I nodded, focusing on the road. "Yeah, it would be nice to have Laura and Josh living nearby again. Especially

after

everything..." Luke hated talking about what happened because he felt guilty. At spoint, | hope he realizes |

don't blhim.

He hummed in agreement, but the tension didn't leave his shoulders.

We ran in silence for a while, the sound of our footsteps mixing with the distant chirp of cicadas. slowed when we

reached the

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halfway point, gesturing over my shoulder. "Should we turn back?"

"Let's finish the normal route," he said quickly, almost too quickly. "I need the run to clear my head."

| shrugged and fell back into step beside him. | didn't press him further. Luke had his moods, and I'd learned over

the years that he'd talk when he was ready.

As the sun dipped lower, casting long shadows across the trail, we turned into the park bordering the nature

reserve. This was my favorite part of my run-a lush green space where the air felt cooler and cleaner, with a lake

glimmering in the distance. The weeping willow cinto view, its long branches swaying gently in the breeze.

It was my favorite spot in the park, the perfect combination of serene and magical. But something was different.

Candles.

| slowed, my heartbeat quickening for a reason unrelated to the run. Beneath the tree, a small table was set up,

glowing in the soft light of candles arranged in a neat circle. A bottle of champagne rested in an ice bucket,

flanked by a tray of colorful macarons.

"Luke..." | whispered, turning to him in surprise.

He had stopped beside me, his expression soft but unreadable. "Wanted to surprise you," he said simply, his

voice steady.

Tears stung my eyes, but | blinked them away. "This is so romantic," | murmured, my voice barely audible.

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He smiled a hint of nerves in the way he rubbed the back of his neck. "We deserve a do-over," he said, stepping

closer. "This isstarting fresh-a new page."

I nodded, unable to find the words. Instead, | walked toward the table, the soft grass cool beneath my sneakers.

Luke was right behind me, pulling out a chair with a touch of old-fashioned chivalry that made my heart ache

A chessboard made of macarons was set up on the table, each piece decorated with intricate chocolate designs.

"Did you seriously turn dessert into a game?" | asked, laughing through the emotion bubbling up inside me.

He shrugged, his smirk returning. "Figured it'd keep your distracted long enough forto win you over."

The next twenty minutes passed in a blur. It was like he wasn't even trying to play, and for someone who played

against his father he should have swept the floor with me. I'd eaten half his board already as | moved my pieces

closer to taking his king. Luke didn't seem to m | grinned as | reached for his king, plucking the velvety blue

macaron from the board. "Checkmate," | said triumphantly.

Just as | was about to pop the macaron into my mouth, Luke reached out and gently stopped me, his fingers

wrapping around my wrist. "Wait," he said softly, his voice low but firm.

| frowned, confused. "What? You don't get my victory snack!"

"Turn it around," he said, his gaze steady but unreadable.

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Curious, | turned the macaron in my hand.

Painted delicately on the bottom in a shimmering gold was a small question mark. | blinked, confused.

"Luke?" | asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

He didn't answer. He just watched me, patient and calm, though the way his hands rested on the table betrayed

the tension coiling in his body.

Swallowing hard, | looked down at the macaron again. Slowly, | pressed my fingers against the edges and broke

it open.

Nestled inside, cushioned by the soft blue filling, was a ring.

Aring.

| just stared at it for a second, my mind struggling to catch up. A delicate diamond sparkled in the candlelight,

set in a simple gold band that was somehow perfect.

When I looked up, Luke was already on one knee.

"Jess," he began, his voice steadier than | would've expected. His hands, however, were another story-slightly

trembling as they held mine.

"You're the strongest, most incredible person I've ever known. You makebetter in every possible way, and |

can't imagine my life without you. | don't want to. | want to spend every day proving to you that you made the

right choice by being with me." | felt the tears spill over, my chest so tight | could barely breathe.

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He smiled then, his confidence breaking through as he squeezed my hand. "Will you marry me?"

I didn't trust myself to speak, so | nodded-quick, frantic nods that made him laugh softly. "Yes," | finally managed,

my voice thick with emotion. "Yes, of course | will."

Luke stood, slipping the ring onto my finger with a care that made my heart swell. And then he kissed me.

| clutched at his shirt, fisting the fabric as if it were the only thing keepingupright. He tilted his head,

deepening the kiss, his hands threading into my hair as he angledexactly where he wanted

me. The heat between us ignited, spreading through my entire body like wildfire.

When he finally broke away, it wasn't to put distance between

1, UB,

Instead, his lips trailed down to my jaw, then lower to the curve of my neck, where his breath cin warm,

uneven bursts.

"Luke," | whispered, barely able to form the word. My heart thundered in my chest, every nerve in my body

alight.

He pulled back just enough to look at me, his forehead resting against mine as his hands settled on my waist. His

thumb brushed along the exposed skin above my waistband, the light. touch sending a jolt of electricity through

me.

His voice was a rough whisper when he finally spoke. "If | don't get you hright now, I'm going to get us both

in trouble for public indecency."

The teasing edge to his words didn't match the hunger in his

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eyes, and that combination made my stomach flip. | swallowed hard, my breath catching as | stared up at him.

FLASHBACK FAIT 2

FLASHBACK PART 2

LUKE

| walked Jess out of the park, my fingers brushing hers every chance | got, barely able to keep my hands to

myself. Her excitement radiated off her, lighting her up in a way that had my pulse pounding. She stared down at

the ring on her finger as though it were magic, her straight into a tree. "Babe. Focus," | murmured, tugging her

back by the waist and keeping her pressed close tofor a beat longer than necessary.

She laughed, the sound rich and warm, vibrating throughin a way that made my grip tighten. "I can't help it-

blinded by this massive diamond," she said, holding up her hand to inspect it again, her eyes sparkling like the

damn thing itself.

| smirked, my thumb brushing over her hip before I let go. "Massive, huh? Thought you said you liked subtle."

She tilted her head, her grin turning wicked. "Subtle and massive. You nailed it."

Impossible. Completely, utterly impossible. Watching her like this-light, carefree, and unguarded-made every

nerve in my body buzz. | wanted to stop right there, pull her into my arms, and kiss her until nothing else

existed. But not here.

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PLASHBACK PART 2

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Not yet.

My truck wasn't parked far, but the short walk felt like torture with her so close and yet untouchable. When we

reached it, | opened the door for her. She stepped up but didn't settle in right. away. Instead, she grabbed my

shirt, pulleddown, and kissedso thoroughly

A growl threatened to slip from my

throat, but | managed to rein it in,

grinning instead as she letgo. |

shut the door and roun ed the, trek,

m EN bqdy But “By the t|

St : '

oe into the driver's seat, | was

already counting down the seconds.

until | could touch h The drive back

was quiet, her energy electric beside

fi

me. Every now and then, I'd catch her

glancing my way, her lips curling in

that stupid, perfect smile that drove