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

LUKE

The nurse tugged at the bandages on my shoulder, her hands careful but firm, though each motion sent a dull throb through my arm. I tried to sit still, but the discomfort made my jaw clench. "How did I even injure this arm?" I muttered, staring at the ceiling, searching for memories that felt as hazy as a dream. "I don't remember anything."

From the doorway, Sarah's voice rang out, full of smug

amusement. "You don't remember?" She stepped closer, hands on her hips like she was about to scold me.

I turned my head, squinting at her. "Should I?"

She sighed, dramatic as ever. "You fell off the damn boat, Luke. You were flailing around like an idiot in the water while the current tried to swallow you whole."

That... sounded about right.

Sarah didn't stop there. "I had to tie a rope around myself and dive in after you. Dragging your dead weight back onto the boat wasn't exactly easy, so yeah, maybe I wrenched your arm a little."

I blinked at her, stunned. "You... you risked your life for me?"

She scoffed, but there was something softer in her eyes. "Don't

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make it weird. Someone had to save your sorry

I stared at her, words failing me. Thank you," I said finally, but the words felt small and insignificant. How do you thank someone for something like that?

Sarah shrugged, brushing it off. "You'd have done the same."

I wasn't so sure, but I didn't argue. Instead, I watched her straighten, her tone shifting. "Anyway, I just talked to the embassy."

That caught my attention. I sat up straighter, wincing as the nurse resumed her work.

"They're sending someone," Sarah said, grinning. "We're going

home."

The words hung in the air for a moment, almost too good to be true. Home.

"Seriously?"

"Seriously." Her grin widened. "An air ambulance will be here tomorrow to pick us up."

A small laugh escaped me, the kind of laugh that comes when you don't know what else to do with the relief crashing over you.

Sarah's expression softened. "Come on," she said, motioning toward the door. "Let's go tell the mango addict he's getting off this island."

I slid off the bed, my shoulder protesting with every move, but I followed her into the next room.

Josh was sprawled on a cot, living like a king. His injured leg was propped up on a pillow that balanced on a nurse's shoulder while another nurse massaged his feet. A pile of mango peels sat beside him, evidence of his ongoing obsession. "How the hell did you manage this?" Sarah asked, her voice somewhere between amusement and disgust.

Josh grinned, completely unbothered. "Asked nicely." He popped another piece of mango into his mouth, his grin widening.

I shook my head. "Of course you did."

The nurse, rubbing his feet, said something in the local -language, her tone light and amused.

"What did she say?" Sarah asked, glancing at Josh.

Josh smirked. "Pretty sure she called me a prince."

Sarah rolled her eyes. "Or something," she muttered.

Josh ignored her, lounging back like he owned the place.

Sarah turned to me. "So, Luke, you still don't remember anything about how you ended up in the water?"

I thought about it, the memory refusing to come together clearly. "No. It's all... fragmented. I remember the boat. The waves were rough. Then-nothing."

"You panicked," Sarah said simply. "The waves freaked you out, and you didn't think. Next thing I know, you're overboard." She paused, then added, "You're welcome, by the way."

III

"I don't think that's what happened..."I said, and Sara laughed.

"No. You were trying to be a hero and get the engine to work again in the haul, but a rogue wave hit the boat, and you went flailing in the air. Thank goodness you put on the life jacket. I still dove in after you, though."

I glanced at her, unsure how to respond. She saved my life, and I didn't even remember it.

Josh interrupted the moment, holding up a piece of mango like it was a toast. "To Sarah, the real MVP of this team."

Sarah snorted. "You're damn right."

She looked back at me, her expression serious again. "For real, though, Luke. We're lucky. All of us. That's why I'm so happy the embassy's sending someone. We'll be out of here tomorrow."

Josh whooped, throwing his hands up in celebration. "Finally! You hear that, ladies? The prince is going home!"

The nurse, massaging his feet, chuckled, shaking her head, and even Sarah cracked a smile.

I stood there, watching them, the relief finally sinking in. After everything-the boat, the crash, the days of uncertainty-we were finally going home.

For the first time in weeks, the weight on my chest lifted just enough to breathe again.

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