Letting My Brother's Best Friend Take My V-Card (Jessie and Luke) novel Chapter 296

SARAH 

JESS 

The rhythmic beeping of the monitor brought me back to reality. That sound–I knew it too well. My heart sank. I’d been here before, more times than I cared to count. The hospital smell, the tightness in my chest, the oppressive weight of worry pressing down on me. Why the hell was I back here? 

My body felt heavy, sluggish, as though it wasn’t mine anymore. My throat was dry, raw like I’d swallowed sandpaper. I tried to move, but even that was a chore. Blinking, I shifted my hand instinctively to my belly–except it wasn’t there. 

Panic surged through me. Shit. Something was wrong. .Something happened. 

His 

Tears rolled down my cheeks before I could stop them, and I bit back a sob. A warm hand brushed them away gently. I turned my head, my vision blurry, and saw Luke sitting beside me. face was pale and drawn, but his eyes–they were steady, grounding me in a way I desperately needed. 

“Did I lose her?” My voice cracked as I forced the words out. 

Luke shook his head quickly, squeezing my hand. “No, babe. She’s healthy and beautiful, and I can’t wait for you to hold her.” 

I stared at him, my mind struggling to catch up. “She is?” My voice was barely above a whisper, but Luke nodded again, his lips twitching into the faintest of smiles. 

1200 

SARAH 

“She is.” 

Relief flooded me so quickly I thought I might faint. I blinked. hard, letting the tears fall freely now, and whispered, “What happened?” 

Luke shifted in his chair, his jaw tightening. “You had a placental rupture,” he began, his voice low and steady. “It caused you to bleed–a lot. Jess, you scared the hell out of me.” He paused, exhaling shakily. “The doctors think it might’ve been from 

stress, or maybe when Sarah pushed you. Honestly, it doesn’t matter anymore. They managed to stop the bleeding, and you’re going to be fine.” 

I processed his words slowly, my head spinning. “The baby?” 

“She was in distress, but they did an emergency C–section. She’s in the NICU right now, but she’s stable.” His voice softened as he added, “Our baby girl’s a fighter, just like her mom.” 

A new wave of tears spilled down my cheeks, but this time they were a mix of relief and overwhelming emotion. I swallowed hard, nodding as I tried to take it all in. 

The door creaked open, and Josh stepped inside, his tall frame looking almost hesitant. His face was tired, his clothes wrinkled, but his lips curved into a small smile when he saw me awake. 

“Laura?” I asked immediately, my voice shaky. 

Josh blinked, his eyes softening. “She’s stable,” he said. “They got the bullet out and stopped the bleeding. She’s going to be okay.” 

A sob escaped my lips, and I reached out for him. He crossed 

12.00 

the room in a few quick steps, pulling me into a gentle hug 

“Careful,” I murmured, wincing as a jolt of pain shot through me. 

“Sorry, sis,” he muttered, pulling back but keeping a hand on my shoulder. His gaze flickered to Luke, “You two almost killed us, you know that?” 

“Sorry,” I whispered, my voice breaking. 

Josh gave me a crooked smile, his eyes glassy. “You’re fine, she’s fine–that’s all that matters.”