Page 43 of You Found Me in the Dark
“That.” She followed, shutting the door behind her and dropping onto the couch beside me, somehow keeping pace despite my speed-walk of shame. She pointed at the hoodie. “That’s Reed’s. I bought it for him last Christmas. He wore it nonstop for like a month. It smells like his car and that dumb cologne he pretends not to use. So, tell me why my best friend is dressed like a Tumblr fever dream in my brother’s clothes.”
My heart stumbled in my chest.
“It was cold,” I said, too flat, too casual. “We were out. I didn’t have a jacket.”
Harper raised a brow. “Uh-huh. Out where, exactly?”
“Just… out.” I winced. Weak.
“You don’t even like going out, Wren. You hate people. So forgive me if I need just a little more context here.”
I looked down at the sleeves bunched around my hands and didn’t say anything. Silence stretched between us. I didn’t know what to tell her. How do you tell your best friend you’re falling in love with her brother?
Finally, Harper sighed, pulling her legs up onto the couch. “Look. I don’t care if something’s going on,” she said, softer now. “That’s a lie—I do care. But not because I’d be mad. I just… you’re my best friend. And he’s my brother. If something’s happening, I’d rather hear it from you before it turns into a full-blown soap opera.”
My throat tightened. I stared at her, torn between denial and the truth pressing against the back of my teeth.
“Nothing’s official,” I finally admitted. “We’re just… figuring it out. He took me to the shop today, and I ended up getting a tattoo. That’s all. It wasn’t anything major, I swear.”
She studied me for a long beat. Then she gave one slow nod, like she wasn’t sure if she should be concerned or weirdly impressed.
“Well,” she said, grabbing a chip and popping it in her mouth, “if he hurts you, I will shave his eyebrows in his sleep. That’s not a threat, it’s a guarantee.”
I let out a laugh.
“You two have always had a thing,” she added, grinning. “Since we were, what? Nineteen? And the guys were twenty-three? I saw the glances. I just think maybe you didn’t realize what they meant back then.” She nudged me. “It was only a matter of time. Now show me your tattoo, dingus.”
I laughed again—genuine, full—and pulled down the hoodie collar to expose my Tegaderm wrapped tattoo on my collarbone.
“Speaking of having a thing… After Tyler and I split, on what would have been our fifth anniversary, Reed found me sitting alone on the beach. We talked for a while, and we ended up kissing.” I sighed. “I know that happened six years ago, and I’m sorry I never told you. I just didn’t want it to change anything between us. But I need you to know now.”
Harper leaned in a little closer, eyes scanning the tattoo like she could decode the whole story behind it. “Yeah, I already knew. You guys didn’t hide it well after that. We are both adults, Wrennie. If he makes you happy, so be it.” She squeezed my hand andcontinued staring at the tattoo. “Okay… this is gorgeous. Not a spontaneous, ‘Hey, let’s do something crazy’ kind of tattoo. This is… thoughtful.”
I swallowed. “Reed designed it.”
Her head whipped toward me. “Hedid?”
I nodded, tugging the sleeve down a little like that might hide how much the area still tingled. “He said he wanted it to feel like me. He gave me the waxing moon to signify a new and brighter beginning.”
Harper blinked, and for once, she didn’t have a quick comeback.
“Jesus, Wren,” she murmured, leaning back slowly, “that’s not a tattoo. That’s a love letter.”
I looked away, adjusting the hoodie, suddenly feeling self-conscious. “I know.”
“And you’re just… casually telling me this while wearing his hoodie, like you didn’t just drop a whole damn bomb in my living room.”
I cracked a smile. “I guess?”
“Oh, babe.” She reached over, flicking the end of the hoodie string. “It’s practically written across your forehead in glittery Sharpie. You’re glowing. Like—‘accidentally fell in love with a man who sketches flowers and means it when he says you matter’ kind of glowing.”
My jaw dropped, laughing despite myself. “Harper! My God!”
She grinned, completely unbothered. “What? I know my brother. He’s always been careful with people. Never wanted to let anyone in. But with you? He’s almost careless. He’s so real around you. Like he finally took off the armor.”
I swallowed hard. “Honestly, Harp, it scares me a little.”
Harper’s smile dropped from her face, replaced by something softer. “Why?”
