His eyes shot back to mine, and he leaned closer. “Then Harper’s fair game, bro. You know I won’t hurt her.”

One of our friends, David, started asking him something from next to me, but I couldn’t focus on him. All I could think about is if Brandon wanted her, I had no doubt he would have her. And I couldn’t let that happen. Without realizing why, I turned to look at her and found her confused eyes looking at me. For once, she wasn’t looking at me like I disgusted her, and having her look at me at all had my entire body relaxing for the first time since I sat down. I would do anything to keep that girl safe, and I had no idea why, but deep down I still knew the first part of keeping her safe was keeping her from looking at me like she was at that moment. I nodded at her and finally started eating.

Zach asked the girls if they were coming to the party that night, and I couldn’t help but laugh when Princess started grumbling about it and looking terrified. Looks like I’d have to keep her safe again, and this time I wasn’t letting her jump out of my arms first thing in the morning. I may need to keep her from wanting me, but that doesn’t mean I couldn’t enjoy her while I did it.

“Looking forward to sharing my bed with you again, PG.”

Brandon abruptly stopped talking to David and narrowed his eyes at me. I just raised an eyebrow at him and waited to see what he’d do.

“Thanks, but I’d rather share a bed with Drew’s blow-up doll.”

Ooo, my snarky and sweet-as-sin girl. You just had to go and remind me why I want you so bad. I turned to look at her and silently cursed her for driving me f**king crazy. I never thought about a girl this much anyway, but to make me feel like I’m going insane because I can’t make up my mind with how much I wanted her and how bad I want to keep her safe and from me was literally making me feel like I was crazy. How could one little girl cause this much turmoil?

Kristen sat down on my lap and her lips were instantly on my neck and jaw. My fingers dug into her hips, but I couldn’t force my eyes from Harper. Her narrowed eyes had widened as soon as Kristen sat down, and I watched as pain flashed across her face for a split second. Shit, I didn’t want to see that; I didn’t want to know this bothered her in any way other than disgusting her. There went my Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde personality again. Half of me wanted to push Kristen off and grab Harper, pulling her into my arms instead; the other was telling me to keep going, to make her think she meant nothing to me.

“I’d be happy to share that bed with you, Chase,” Kristen said like a freaking toddler seconds before her mouth was on mine.

My princess looked like someone had hit her, and I watched as she tore her eyes from mine and looked across from me. I shut my eyes, so I wouldn’t have to watch her look to Brandon after I’d just crushed her. He was right, he wouldn’t hurt her. I didn’t want him to have her, but he would never do what I was doing to her at that moment.

My fingers flexed against Kristen’s hips when I heard Harper’s soft voice; I had done that, taken the sass from her and brought her right back to the shy, unsure Harper. “Um, I’ll uh—see you all tonight then, I guess. Bye, everyone.”

“Harper,” Brandon called, and it felt like someone had just punched me in the chest. I needed this to happen, them meeting, but God I didn’t want it to.

I held Kristen’s head away and turned in time to see Harper’s eyes grow wide and her cheeks get slightly pink as she watched Brandon walk up to her. He held out his hand to her and said something, but they were already too far away for me to hear them. She smiled brightly at him, and again it felt like someone was punching me. I don’t think I’d ever really seen her smile until just then. And it wasn’t even directed at me. Brandon couldn’t keep his eyes off her as they walked to the doors and outside. I really couldn’t let this happen, I decided.

“Up . . . get up, Kristen. Up.” I more or less pushed her off me and took the few steps toward Bree, who was talking to Zach about that night’s party. “You girls planning on staying all weekend or coming and going for the parties.”

She looked up at me like I was dumb. “Uh, staying. And we get your room.”

“Always. Go pack for the weekend, we’re leaving within half an hour, I’ll go get Princess.”

“Don’t be mean to her, Chase!”

I shook my head as I quickly walked toward the door. I couldn’t decide how I was going to be toward her yet. I just needed her away from Brandon. As soon as I was out the door, I saw them, and I couldn’t stop the growl that climbed out of my chest. They were standing close and just staring at each other. Stopping this. Now.

Grabbing her arm, I didn’t stop walking, I just took her with me, “Come on PG, let’s go.”

“Chase! Stop!” She pulled her arm free and looked up at me like she wanted to go off on me. Such a fierce little princess. “What is your problem?”

“I’m taking you and Bree to the house, and you need to pack for the weekend, so let’s go.”

Harper dodged my hand when I went to grab her again and looked at me, clearly confused, “The weekend, what?”

“You’re staying with me; go pack.”

“Fine, hold on.”

“Harper.”

“Go away, Chase, I’ll meet you in the room in a minute. Go find Bree.”

Yeah, not a chance. I stepped up right behind her and kept my gaze on Brandon. He was looking at her like she was the damn world, and I wanted to put a football field between them.