"I told you I would give you money. I told you I'd invest in your business idea. But instead, you go and get knocked up by my brother? Tell me the truth, were you hooking up with him the whole time I thought you were my friend standing beside me against him?"
I shook my head. "No. I had disdain for Bran, even after I agreed to his deal. He paid me an obscene amount of money, Harper, and I was desperate."
"And you thought that you could hide a pregnancy and this thing with my brother from me?"
I looked down. "I was going to try."
"What about Dax?"
"He's my bodyguard."
Harper rolled her eyes. "Of course. Being involved with Bran means your life isn’t your own anymore."
I looked up into her eyes. "I don't want my life to be my own anymore. I want my life to be with Bran and this baby. I hope that you will accept that and maybe even bless it. Bran misses you, and wants you back in his life. I would still like to be your friend, but if that's not possible, then I'll say goodbye here."
Her eyes flared with heat. "So you’re choosing my brother, the one who tried to dictate my life, over me. I was the only one who was willing to support you and be your friend after all your dad and brother had done."
"I am grateful for your friendship Harper. More than you know. But if I have to choose, I'm going to choose Bran. And here's the thing, Harper. Bran would never force me to choose. I'm sorry for hurting you but I have to wonder about a friend that would ask me to give up the man I love and my child."
Her expression was stricken and she staggered back a step.
"I know Bran has been a thorn in your side, but look me in the eyes and tell me that you think he's evil or mean, because he isn't. I know evil and mean. I was raised by it. Bran for all his faults, he loves you so much. So much so that he spoiled you rotten. And all he asked was that he could keep you safe from a legitimate threat."
I let out a shuddering sigh. I must've been running on endorphins that were now subsiding because I felt exhausted.
I turned toward her door. "I hope that you will forgive me and that we can be friends again. But I'll understand if that's not possible."
I opened the door and stepped out. Dax straightened from where he'd been leaning on the railing looking at his phone.
He pocketed his phone. "Is everything all right?"
"Not quite. Can you drive me to Bran’s now?"