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

IT'S BEEN 2 YEARS

JOSH DECEMBER

Christmas was supposed to be a tfor 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," | muttered, pinching the bridge of my nose. "I have a team event that |

can't back out of. It's part of the contract. And honestly, Jess, | don't feel comfortable being that far away from

her. She's only two."

| 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."

| groaned, already knowing I'd cave. Jess always had a way of chipping away at my resolve. "Fine," | sighed. "I'll

fly her over Monday, but I'll be back by Friday"

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

| knew what she was going to ask.

Would | visit Laura?

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

The last t| visited, it was like stepping into a mausoleum. Laura was a shell of the vibrant, spirited woman |

married. She was alive-technically-but she wasn't there. Her body existed, but her essence, the Laura | knew and

loved, felt long gone.

"I haven't been there in over six months," | said quietly, more to myself than to Jess. The words carried a weight |

hadn't fully acknowledged until now: "The last t| went... she was so still, Jess. So... gone. It's like she's not

even there anymore." Jess softened her tone. "Josh, | understand. Truly, | 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 sshade as her mother's. It was impossible not to see Laura in her every

move, her every laugh. Jess spoke again, pullingout of my thoughts. "Don't worry about Christmas. Luke and

I will make sure Asha has the best time. | promise."

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

"I've been doing sresearch," 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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| felt my chest tighten. "Germany?"

"Yeah," she said, a bit more confidently now. "They have cutting-edge techniques that aren't available here yet. |

think it's worth considering. | mean, if there's even a chance-"

| cut her off with a heavy sigh. "I'm not opposed to it, Jess. I'm not. | just... | don't know. | don't want to get

everyone's hopes up. Yours. Mine. Mom and Dad's. And even though I don't see her often, | know I'm a few hours

away if something... if something happens." "Josh-"

"Germany's too far," | said, my voice breaking slightly. "What if I'm not there in time? What if | 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.

| looked over at Asha as she smeared edible paint all over my teak floors. Her blonde hair caught the light, the

sshade 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," | said softly. "I'll think about it."

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

on the counter.

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

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printed across the front. Since

A . .

Laura's accident, hér artwork Rah

gained qelipage doit [@ notoriety

Chllblies were practically begging me

to let them do an exhibition. The

content is on novelenglish.net! Read

the latest chapter there!

| ran my thumb over the edge of the

envelope, fighting the familiar kpe{

that formed in my|cRekDevery time

tis BubiePoup. Her paintings

were beautiful, timeless. But |

f q

couldn't sell them. The content is on

novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

|

It wasn't about the money or the

prestige. It was about the memories.

Each canvas held piece of karl 5

gfimpséintd the way she saw the

f q

world. They weren't mine to sell. They

q q f q

were hers, and it didn't feel right to let

them go. The content is on

novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

"Daddy," Asha called, snappingout 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.

| ruffled her hair gently. "You're just like your mom," | 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 | was still trying to hold on to.