Harper takes a deep breath, her lips thinning into a small line. “Do you want me there with you?”
“Yes. Do you really want to?”
She nods. “If we want her to see this is real between us, yes. Just because it’s hard, doesn’t mean I’m going anywhere.”
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“I promise, we’ll get through this. You’re the best thing in my life, Harper. You and those girls who are probably adding chocolate chips to their yogurt.”
Harper peeks behind me and smiles. I know I’m right based on that look.
“All I need to be happy is you three. If my mom can’t see that, then that’s on her.”
“We’re doing this together,” Harper reiterates.
As if summoned, the front door opens. “Morning, girls.”
“We’re doing this now?” Harper hisses.
“Crap. I forgot Emma has the day off and she was coming over while I’m at practice.”
“Gigi!” Sam yells. “We’re having chocolate chips with yogurt for breakfast.”
“Okay.” I spin on my heel. “We’re going to need to have a chat about how many chocolate chips you eat.”
Sam looks chagrined as Mom steps into the kitchen.Her eyes immediately lock on to Harper. I guess this is going to be harder than I thought.
“What isshedoing here?” Mom spits out.
“I was just leaving.” Harper winces and grabs her jacket.
“No,” I tell her. There’s a demand in my voice. I’m not going to lose Harper again because of my mother. “Mom, you need to know the truth.”
Mom crosses her arms, hoisting her bag farther up her shoulder. “That she left when you needed her most?”
Harper scoffs. “That’s not what happened.”
“One day you were here, then the next you weren’t.”
“Because—” Harper starts, but I interrupt.
“I left, Mom. Not Harper.”
“Stop trying to protect her.”
“Sam. Sadie. Go upstairs to your room.” I turn to face the girls who have questioning looks on their tiny faces.
“Are we in trouble?” Sadie asks.
“No, Sadie, you’re not in trouble. I need to talk to Gigi alone.”
“Someone is definitely in trouble,” Sam whispers as the two of them head upstairs with their cups of yogurt.
I can’t fight the smirk that lands on my face. Of course they think that.
I wait for the sound of their door shutting before I turn toward my mother again. Anger is coming off her in waves. Anger that is directed at Harper when it should be directed at me.
