Letting My Brother's Best Friend Take My V-Card (Jessie and Luke)

JESS

The nurse's office was annoyingly quiet, the kind of quiet that

made the ticking clock on the wall sound like a drum in my head, or maybe that was the concussion. Fluorescent lights flickered above my head, and the sharp light was enough to make me squint. As if Luke could pick up on what bothered me, he suddenly stood up and fli Luke had deposited me awkwardly on the edge of the bed, swinging my legs up even though I had full control of my limbs. But the real reason I felt so uncomfortable wasn't the uncomfortable bed or the smell of antiseptic, or the shitty lights - it was Luke. Here. In the same room as me after I...

He was slouched in a chair by the door, this stubborn shadow that refused to leave even though I told him repeatedly. Every time I glanced his way, he'd just raise a brow, giving me this look like, "I'm not moving. Get used to it."

I'd tried to get him to leave. "Luke, you really don't have to stay," I had said, trying to sound casual, but I was practically begging. Then I straight-

up told him to leave, and I even threatened him with the only weapons I could find: cotton balls and tongue depressors, neither of which fazed him.

He didn't even bother replying, just gave me that same look that made me feel stupid for even suggesting it. Eventually, I gave up, sighing in defeat and focusing on the ceiling, counting the

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tiny cracks in the plaster.

My whole body felt jittery like I had ants under my skin, and the longer he stayed, the worse it got. The air between us was thick. with tension, and I could almost feel it pressing down on me. It was supposed to be cool in here with the air conditioning on, but for some reason, I still felt hot, like a burning inferno.

Finally, after what felt like forever, Luke leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees. "Where the hell is this nurse?" he muttered, sounding like he was about to lose it.

I groaned, rolling my eyes. "You can leave, you know. Not forcing you to stay here. Freedom, just beyond that door." I shrugged, not even sparing him a glance.

He clenched his jaw, his eyes narrowing, as he shot me a glance that was all bored and uninterested. "I would, but your knee is bleeding on the sheets, and Mrs. Luther told me to get you to the nurse, not the nurse's room, the nurse. No nurse, ergo, I didn't do what I promi "Now, promises matter, do they?" I stared at him, but Luke didn't bother to respond, so I just let the question float in the air between us. This man was insufferable.

I blinked, looking down at my knee. "Crap," I mumbled, more to myself than to him. There was a small stain spreading on the sheet underneath my leg. "My prom dress isn't going to cover this up." The words slipped out before I could stop them, just a quiet grumble to myself.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Luke's expression shift, his jaw tightening and his hands clenching for a second, white

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knuckles folding over the chair. It was so fast I almost missed it, but there it was-just a flicker, a tiny crack in his usually cool and collected mask.

I shot Luke a sideways glance, still irritated by his presence and the way he seemed to take up the entire room just by sitting there. His silence drove me crazy and the tension between us grew with each passing second.

"What's your problem with prom, anyway? You are the one going to it with a brainless cheerleader." I finally asked, my voice sharper than I intended.

Luke huffed, rolling his eyes. He didn't answer right away, instead leaning forward in his chair. The movement made the muscles in his forearms ripple, and I couldn't help but notice how annoyingly attractive he was. Why did he have to look like that, with all those perfectly

even

"Why do you care that your dress will show your knee if you won't be wearing it? You don't have a date," Luke said, the words slipping out before he could stop them. His eyes widened slightly as if he hadn't meant to say that.

I sat up so quickly the room started spinning. "What do you mean I don't have a date? I'm going with Tom!" My voice a little uncertain and not as confident as I owuld like.

Luke just shrugged, not even bothering to look at me as he fell back into the chair. He propped his feet up on the bed, lacing his fingers behind his head, and closed his eyes like he was about to take a nap. "Ask Tom," he said lazily.