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

IT'S BEEN 2 YEARS

JOSH DECEMBER

Christmas was supposed to be a time for joy and togetherness, but this year, it felt like one big headache. Jess had been on my case for weeks about letting Asha spend Christmas with them.

"Josh, she's two years old! She needs to be around family for the holidays," Jess had said over the phone. "Mom and Dad are going to be here. It's a proper family gathering. You can't keep her all to yourself."

"It's not about keeping her to myself," I muttered, pinching the bridge of my nose. "I have a team event that I can't back out of. It's part of the contract. And honestly, Jess, I don't feel comfortable being that far away from her. She's only two."

I could practically hear her eyes rolling on the other end. "Josh, I have children too. Both alive and kicking. I know how to keep mini humans breathing. Please! Mom and Dad barely see her with you down in Texas. It's one week. She'll love it here with her aunt and uncle, and you know it."

I groaned, already knowing I'd cave. Jess always had a way of chipping away at my resolve. "Fine," I sighed. "I'll fly her over Monday, but I'll be back by Friday"

"Will you..." Jess started, but then she stopped herself.

I knew what she was going to ask.

Would I visit Laura?

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The question hung in the silence between us, unspoken but deafening.

The last time I visited, it was like stepping into a mausoleum. Laura was a shell of the vibrant, spirited woman I married. She was alive-technically-but she wasn't there. Her body existed, but her essence, the Laura I knew and loved, felt long gone.

"I haven't been there in over six months," I said quietly, more to myself than to Jess. The words carried a weight I hadn't fully acknowledged until now: "The last time I went... she was so still, Jess. So... gone. It's like she's not even there anymore." Jess softened her tone. "Josh, I understand. Truly, I do. But this isn't just about you. It's about Asha, too. She deserves to know her mom. It's like you've given up on her..."

I swallowed the lump in my throat, glancing over at Asha as she smeared edible paint all over my teak floors. Her blonde hair caught the light, the same shade as her mother's. It was impossible not to see Laura in her every move, her every laugh. Jess spoke again, pulling me out of my thoughts. "Don't worry about Christmas. Luke and I will make sure Asha has the best time. I promise."noveldrama

"Thanks," I said gruffly. There was a pause, and I could tell she was building up to something.

"I've been doing some research," she started, her voice careful. "There's this facility in Germany. They specialize in advanced treatments for brain injuries. Josh, they've had incredible success stories. They've worked with people who had injuries like Laura's. It's... it's worth looking into."

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I felt my chest tighten. "Germany?"

"Yeah," she said, a bit more confidently now. "They have cutting-edge techniques that aren't available here yet. I think it's worth considering. I mean, if there's even a chance-"

I cut her off with a heavy sigh. "I'm not opposed to it, Jess. I'm not. I just... I don't know. I don't want to get everyone's hopes up. Yours. Mine. Mom and Dad's. And even though I don't see her often, I know I'm a few hours away if something... if something happens." "Josh-"

"Germany's too far," I said, my voice breaking slightly. "What if I'm not there in time? What if I move her there, and something goes wrong?"

Jess was quiet for a moment. "What if it works?"

I didn't have an answer to that.

I looked over at Asha as she smeared edible paint all over my teak floors. Her blonde hair caught the light, the same shade as her mother's.

Jess must've sensed my hesitation because she spoke again. "You don't have to decide right now. Just... think about it, okay? For her sake. For all of ours."

"Yeah," I said softly. "I'll think about it."

The words felt hollow, but they were the only ones I had.clearing my throat as I stared at the pile of mail sitting on the counter.

On top of the stack was an envelope with the name of a gallery

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printed across the front. Since Laura's accident, hér artwork had gained a strange sort of notoriety Galleries were practically begging me to let them do an exhibition.

I ran my thumb over the edge of the envelope, fighting the familiar knot that formed in my chest every time this subject came up. Her paintings were beautiful, timeless. But I couldn't sell them.

It wasn't about the money or the prestige. It was about the memories. Each canvas held a piece of her, a glimpse into the way she saw the world. They weren't mine to sell. They were hers, and it didn't feel right to let them go.

"Daddy," Asha called, snapping me out of my spiral. She held up her tiny hands, covered in streaks of red and green paint.

I managed a small smile, walking over to kneel beside her. "Looks like you're making a masterpiece, huh?"

She giggled, a sound so pure it made my chest ache in the best

way.

I ruffled her hair gently. "You're just like your mom," I whispered, my voice cracking slightly.

The holidays were supposed to be merry and bright, but for me, they were always a reminder of what I'd lost-and what I was still trying to hold on to.