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

11 288 Vouchers CHAPTER 16

I drifted through the week like a zombie. Sam and Laura hovered over me like I was some fragile bird, and it became a lot. I appreciated that they didn't ask me if I was okay, but being there all the time meant that they didn't believe I was.

I haven't been sleeping well, and nightmares have woken me up more than a few times. Luckily, Josh didn't know-well, I don't think he knew. Our rooms were on opposite sides of the house.

So here I was another morning and another night I didn't sleep.

I just lay in bed, waiting for it to be 5 a.m. so that I could take a run. I knew Luke would be there for the run, and maybe that's what kept me up. The anticipation of seeing him was overwhelming, but I kept telling myself it wasn't.

No matter what time I went - Luke was there, falling in the right behind me. We didn't talk; he never ran behind me and made sure I got home before he left.

On the first run, I thought he was being nice and doing Josh a favor. Then, the next morning, when he was there, I asked him why, and he just shrugged, waiting for us to start. So, by day three, I didn't even ask.

I was itching to get out of bed and go for a run, but I didn't want to see Luke. I still hated men, and the more I looked at Luke, the more I realized I didn't hate him.

So I skipped the run and called Sam and Laura for a coffee

before school. I could avoid Luke, but Sam and Laura-there was no way. We planned the entire weekend, and they invited. themselves to a sleepover. I wanted to tell them I just needed a night by myself, but they meant well. Maybe I needed an all-girls night after all. I knew Fred had another party, so Luke and Josh would be out of the house.

I trudged out of school, my feet heavy with the weight of another long day. I was meeting Laura and Sam at my house for a sleepover - again. It seemed like they'd been staying over every other night this week, but I wasn't complaining. It was nice to have some company, and it was almost like having a built-in excuse to get out of doing homework.

I had just finished my last class and turned the corner, only to see Luke leaning against my locker, chatting with Clair, the cheerleading captain.

I slowed down my pace, considering leaving my bag to avoid them. Luke knew it was my locker, and seeing Luke press Clair up against my locker stirred something in me. Something I shouldn't be feeling.

Actually, screw that. I'm done walking on eggshells, trying not to upset the status quo. I walked right up to them.

"Eh, uhm." I cleared my throat loudly, but they ignored me, and Clair pulled Luke into her kiss. I wanted to hurl.

"Could you go have lunch somewhere else?" I tried again.

"Just move!" I was irritated, and I might have yelled a little, but good grief, they didn't listen. Luke was the first to pull away

slowly and turn to look at me while Claire wiped her mouth.

Luke smirked while I waited impatiently for them to move. They stepped aside, and Cliar gave me a condescending look. I rolled my eyes, yanking my locker open and grabbing what I needed before making a quick escape.. I was almost home free when Luke called me.

"Hey, Jess,"

Nope. Not happening.

I walked faster...

Luke took two easy strides and caught up next to me, his hand tugging on my arm to stop me. My body just acted, and I jumped away from him like his touch was electric.

My heart was racing, and I stood there, staring at him for a moment, trying to calm myself down. I shouldnt have reacted like that. I knew Luke wouldnt hurt me.

"I don't..." What could I say?

I saw a flicker of regret on his face, and the hand reaching out to touch me closed into a tight fist. Luke blew out a breath. "You're not running tomorrow," he stated simply.

I stammered, confused, and took a step back. "What do you mean? I'll run if I want to run." I tried keeping my voice low, but

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Luke took a step forward, towering over me and boxing me into the corner. He held my gaze. "Jessica. I'm asking you not to go running alone."

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I searched Luke's face, trying to read his expression. All I saw was his ocean-

blue eyes and his hair dangling across his forehead in a way that made my fingers itch to swipe it away. I had the sudden urge to reach out and smooth it back into place, my hand lifting to do just that, but I caught myself and let it drop back down to my side. I crossed my arms over my chest, trying to appear braver than I felt. "And if I don't?" I challenged him, my voice still low but with a hint of defiance.

Luke's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched in a way that made me feel a shiver run down my spine. "You. Won't. Go. Running," he said, his voice low and possessive, his words dripping with a warning.

"Don't think you can just ignore me, Jessica," he growled, his eyes burning with intensity. "I'm telling you what's going to happen. And if you don't listen, you'll regret it."