“Breathe,” he says quietly as I make my way out of the car. Harper darts her eyes in between James and me several times before she speaks. “I…I know I’m drunk because brunch turned into Sunday Funday but,” she looks away and then back at us again. She blinks her eyes several times as if she’s trying to convince herself that her alcohol influenced mind isn’t playing tricks on her. She takes a few steps towards us. “Oh my God. What the fuck?”

“Harper…” I feel the tears prickling in my eyes as I take in her disgusted expression.

“Harper,” James speaks up, “you probably have some questions so maybe you and Gabrielle should talk inside?”

“Talk about what?” She looks at me. “He’s the mystery guy? You’re messing around with…your brother?” I’m grateful she isn’t hysterically screaming and isn’t drawing any attention to us yet. I swallow, not knowing what to say. “Gabrielle, this is,” she lets out a deep breath, “are you fucking insane?”

“Watch it, Harper,” James barks at her, and as grateful as I am that he’s always in my corner, I put a hand up.

“Harp, please, can we go inside?”

She looks at me and nods before she turns around and starts heading inside without waiting for me.

I rub my hand over my forehead willing the headache that is starting to form away. “Well, I might be coming over tonight after all.”

“Do you want me to stay? Or come in with you?” His eyes look up at my dorm.

“No. She’s my best friend here, I should be able to handle it. At least this first conversation.”

“Call me after and let me know how it goes.” He presses a kiss to my lips and as much as I want to deepen it, I’m not sure who else of my friends might be lingering if Harper just showed up.

“I love you.”

“I love you more.” He tells me with a wink before he nods towards the building. Both of us know he won’t leave until I’m safely inside.

When I get inside, Harper is sitting on the bed already dressed in her pajamas. Her blonde curly hair is pulled into a top knot and she’s already removed all of her makeup. “How did this happen? When? Have you been doing this since you moved here?” She hops up and begins firing off her questions in rapid succession.

“Okay, one question at a time,” I tell her as I set my overnight bag on the floor. “It happened for the first time right before winter break. The night I slept over at his apartment and we left the next day. It never happened before then but I’ve been in love with him since I was like…thirteen?”