Author: Molly McAdams

Brad was pressing on my leg, making me wince, Bree was watching his hand and Chase and Brandon were staring at me. Both clearly still worried.

“Uh, Brad? Could you ease up? You're hurting me.”

He smiled sheepishly and removed the bloody towel away from me.

“What the –”

“You dropped your mug and a big chunk sliced your leg pretty good.” Brandon filled me in as he pressed his lips lightly to my neck. “How are you really feeling? And don’t lie to me.” He whispered into my ear.

I looked up in time to see Chase hang his head and step away, slowly shaking it back and forth. One half of me yearned to go comfort him, and I tried not to let it show.

“I'm great, really. I feel like nothing happened.”

He seemed to consider that a moment before finally helping me sit up.

“See? Just fine.” My head swam and I felt nauseas for a second.

Brandon smiled and kissed me softly, “I'll go make you something to eat then, that's probably what it was. You didn't have dinner last night.”

“Or lunch.” Bree interjected and I blushed as Brandon scowled at me.

“Bree?” He said.

“Yeah?”

“Can you go with her while she takes a shower? Just in case it happens again.”

“Sure, come on Harp, you look disgusting.”

I smiled at her, “I love you too Bree.”

I took a shower, without incident, and practically inhaled the eggs and toast Brandon made, even though it was enough for Bree and I put together. By the time we were finished, I'd already missed my only class of the day, so naturally Bree and I decided to go shopping. Brandon wasn't ecstatic, he was trying to keep me in bed, but once I had eaten, I felt better than I normally did so he reluctantly let me go. We'd barely gotten into the second shop when Bree put a hand on my arm and turned me towards her.

“Are you okay Harper?”

“Yeah. Why? What's up?” I breathed heavily.

“Um, well we just walked like one hundred feet and you're practically doubled over trying to catch your breath.”

I raised an eyebrow and started to speak.

“Okay fine, that was a little exaggerated. But you're bright red, sweating and you are breathing hard.”

“Well, it's really hot today, but other than that I feel fine.”

“Harper, you're wearing a short sleeved shirt and it's fifty degrees outside.”

I paused, “Really?” My heart had finally slowed down so I took a deep breath, relishing in the feel of my lungs filling to their capacity.

She grabbed my hand and towed me towards the car. I couldn't even complain, I felt fine but man all I wanted to do was take a nap. When we got back, Brandon jumped up to greet us, worry etched all over his face as he took in my heavy breathing and red face.

“Did she pass out again?” He asked Bree.

“No, but she wasn’t doing well.”

“What do you mean? Did something else happen to her again?”

“She is right here, and nothing happened. I just need to take a nap. If you guys are done treating me like a child, I'd like to get to that.” I pushed past him and headed for his bed.

It wasn't either of their faults, and they really didn't deserve to have me snap at them. But I was frustrated with how rapid my awesome feeling had turned into barely being able to keep my eyes open and practically drooling at the thought of taking a nap. I climbed into Brandon's bed, fully clothed and was out before I could consider taking my shoes off.

The rest of the weekend consisted of me feeling fine, and Brandon and Bree fluttering around me like I was going to collapse at any given moment. I breathed a huge sigh of relief when Sunday came and went. Bree, Claire and I had a girl’s day since Chase bailed on family day again, and Monday I was back in class. Things were already calming down with Bree and Brandon since there were no more weird episodes, and I was certain they'd get over it completely if I made it through the day. And get through it, I did. I'd had so much energy that day, I practically skipped to each class and Bree had to hold me tight enough to keep me walking. Thankfully, Brandon seemed to be completely over the fainting spell too, because when I got back to his room that night, he immediately tossed me on the bed and attacked my mouth and clothes. I hadn't had one of these steamy sessions with the love of my life since Wednesday, and it was long overdue.

9

“So Chase isn't here again.”

“I know, Mom and Dad have to be getting annoyed with him. He's missed the last few family days.”

He has missed five, not like I was counting or anything. I haven't seen him once since over a week ago when I passed out, and other than that I'd only caught a glimpse of him three times since our goodbye one month and two days ago. I know, I'm pathetic. “Maybe I shouldn't come to family day Bree. I might be the reason he doesn't come around anymore.”

That made her finally look up from her laptop, “Why would you say that?”

“I don't know, maybe he doesn't like that I'm intruding on family time.” My heart ached for him, and I wish it didn't. I wanted to marry Brandon, it finally hit me two weeks ago and I'd never been more sure of anything in my life; so the fact that Chase still had a hold on me at all frustrated me to no end. Since the night Brandon had come back from Arizona, I'd never once regretted my choice in choosing him. I don't know how to explain it, but when I thought about my future, he's the only man I ever saw. But I needed to say good bye to Chase for good, I just didn’t know how to do that yet.

“You're not intruding,” She huffed a laugh and went back to some video she was watching, “I swear you fit in this family better than he does. I wish I had another brother, I'd make you marry him so you could be my sister.”

I choked on the chip I'd just put in my mouth and walked out of the pantry to gulp down some water. When I got it dislodged from my throat, I hopped onto a barstool and dug into the bag again.

“You're eating again Harper?”

I paused for a second, then shoved the handful of chips in my mouth. “Yeah?”

“You just ate two burgers not even thirty minutes ago.” Bree was looking at the bag with disgust. “I've never even see you finish one.”

“I know,” I sighed and rolled up the chip bag, “I'm just so freaking hungry these last two days, I think I'm going to start soon.”

“No you're not,” She said sure of herself, “We still have a little over a week.” Bree and I were together so much, we had synchronized. And trust me it wasn't a fun week for anyone.

“You sure?” I swear I felt like it had been forever since I had one.

“Mhmm.” She burst into laughter and started clicking on the video again, “Oh my God Harper, come watch this.”

I stood next to her but didn't register what we were watching, I was too busy trying to remember when my last one had been. Bree had to be wrong, because I don't remember having our monthly chocolate and romance comedy fest lately. I hated them and she never let me get out of that, but when was the last time we'd had one? I had to go find my phone, I had a calendar on there where I tracked my periods. I unconsciously started eating the chips again thinking about times when I avoided anything other than chaste kisses with Brandon. It didn't hurt his feelings, he knew what was going on when I got in those moods.

“Well look who decided to join the party. Mom and Dad are already asleep.”

I slowly turned to look down at Bree, was she talking to me? She had paused the video and was leaning back in the chair, arms folded across her chest, shooting daggers towards the living room. Following her line of sight, I dropped the bag when I saw him standing there.

“I was busy, Harper can I talk to you?”

“Uh,” I glanced back at Bree's annoyed but confused expression, “yeah. Yeah I guess.” I took two steps before gripping the counter, “Whoa.” Crap not again.

“Are you okay?” They both rushed to me and I held a hand up to stop them.

“I'm fine, I just got dizzy for a second.” I took a calming breath, “Thought I was going to faint again.”

Bree tilted her head to the side and looked at me curiously, Chase was in a fight with himself on whether to help me stay standing or not touch me at all.

“How do you feel now?” Bree questioned.

“Fine, I guess. That was really weird.”

“Chase, maybe now isn't a good time.”

“No I'm good Bree, I'll be right back.” I followed Chase out to the driveway, and though I wanted to close the distance between us, I stayed a few feet away. “Hi.” I said pathetically. How would I ever tell him goodbye if I was already struggling with myself to not kiss him?

He blew out through his nose, “Hey Princess.”

“Where have you been?”

“Working a lot, classes, surfing. That's about it.”

I nodded my head and looked at my feet, “Your family misses you.”

“Do you?”

“Of course I do Chase.” How could he think I didn't?

“Harper I've given you more than enough time. I can't stand to stay away from you anymore, I need to know who you choose.”

“You're really going to do this now? Bree could be listening from the front door!”

“Yes, now. I need to know.”

“Chase how can you even ask me to choose between you two?” I hissed through my teeth and met his glare, “You left me, like you always do. You expected me to think you still wanted me after you've completely avoided me for a month?”

He threw his arms out, “I was giving you time! You asked me to give you time!”

“I didn't want you to avoid me like the plague, I wanted you to fight for me. To show me that you loved me like you said you did.”

“I do love you Harper, and that's why I gave you that time to think about things without me interfering.”