I stare out the window as the Uber pulls up the driveway, the tires crunching on gravel. The Harper residence sits before us, a Victorian-style house painted a muted sage green with crisp white trim. It’s bigger than I anticipated but not a mansion by any ans, just a well-maintained ho with a wraparound porch and gabled windows that give it a distinctly New England character.
“Are you sure about this?” I whisper to Connor, clutching my duffel bag closer.
Connor whips his head toward , blue eyes flashing with annoyance. “Shut the fuck up,” he hisses under his breath. “You’re in trouble, and what? Did you think I was gonna let you figure your shit out on your own? Dude, fuck no.”
Connor has always been there for . But then, I’ve taken more than one bullet for him, too.
“Thanks,” I manage, the simple word inadequate for the depth of gratitude I feel.
April tips the driver while Gabby exits first, her curly hair bouncing as she hops out and imdiately heads for the trunk to retrieve their shopping bags. April follows, her movents tense and efficient as she scans the quiet neighborhood street like she’s expecting trouble to materialize at any mont.
“Co on,” Connor murmurs, nudging toward the door. “Let’s get inside before April changes her mind.”
I slide out of the car. The late afternoon sun casts long shadows across the neatly maintained front yard. It looks so normal, so peaceful, the complete opposite of my life for the past few weeks.
“This place is nice,” I comnt laly as we follow the sisters up the stone path to the front door.
Connor nods. “Yeah, it’s super chill.”
As he’s talking, the front door swings open, revealing another woman who could only be another Harper sister. She’s shorter than both April and Gabby, with a round face, thick-frad glasses, and short brown hair.
“You’re back early,” she says, eyes widening as they land on . “And you brought company.”
“This is Adam,” Connor says, placing a protective hand on my shoulder. “He’s going to stay with us for a few days.”
The woman’s eyes flicker with surprise, darting from to Connor and back again. There’s sothing authoritative in her posture despite her shorter stature She adjusts her glasses, studying with an intensity that makes want to fidget.
“This is June,” Connor says, filling the silence. “The eldest Harper sister.”
June’s warm brown eyes crinkle slightly at the corners as she takes in, her gaze lingering on my fading black eye before dropping to the duffel bag clutched protectively against my chest.
She looks at her sisters and then back to us. “Well, co in,” she says, her voice carrying a gentle authority that sohow makes it clear she’s the one in charge in this household. She steps aside, holding the door wider to admit us all.
As we file past her into the foyer, she looks at Connor as though she’s love-sick and hasn’t seen him in years, her entire face softening in a way that transforms her features from rely pretty to genuinely beautiful. The change is so dramatic it’s almost startling to witness.
“You girls were gone longer than I thought,” she says to her sisters, though her eyes never leave Connor’s face. “I was starting to worry.”
The mont Connor crosses the threshold, June’s restraint seems to evaporate. She reaches for him with both hands, cupping his face as she pulls him down to her level. Their lips et in what starts as a greeting but quickly evolves into sothing much more intimate, a shaless tongue kiss that has averting my eyes in embarrassnt.
They both seem really into it, Connor’s arms wrapping around her waist. The kiss deepens, becoming sothing almost performative in its intensity like they’re completely unaware or unconcerned with their audience.
The display stirs sothing in , a pang of unexpected longing that catches off guard. It briefly makes miss Caterina, not the violence or the fear, but the passion, the way she could make the world disappear with just her touch.
I glance at the other sisters. April seems unbothered, casually setting down her shopping bags as if this is an everyday occurrence not worth noting. But Gabby watches the kiss with naked longing, her eyes darkening with desire. She looks jealous but also like she wants to join, her body unconsciously leaning toward the embracing couple as if pulled by an invisible string.
‘What the fuck is the dynamic here?’
When Connor and June finally separate, both slightly breathless, June keeps one arm wrapped possessively around his waist as she turns her attention back to .
She studies with those warm brown eyes, a mixture of curiosity and caution evident in her expression. “So, you knew Connor before he lost his mories?” June asks, her hand still possessively resting on Connor’s waist.
The question hangs in the air, deceptively simple yet loaded with implications. I shift the heavy duffel bag in my arms.
“That is such a complicated question,” I say, choosing my words carefully.
Connor jumps in. “Let’s just say we both lost our mories on the sa night,” he explains, his eyes eting mine in silent communication. “And Adam wasn’t so lucky to et a family like you.”
June’s expression softens, compassion replacing suspicion as she takes in my exhausted appearance. “That must have been really hard,” she says, and the genuine sympathy in her voice catches off guard.
I nod, not trusting myself to speak.
April steps forward, her tall fra imposing despite her casual posture. She’s removed her light jacket, revealing a sleeveless blouse that shows off toned arms. “Shouldn’t we dig deeper on this, sis?” she asks, her voice carrying a note of persistence that makes my stomach clench with anxiety. Her hazel eyes never leave my face, searching for deception, for danger.
June turns to her sister, sothing unspoken passing between them.
“When does Connor ever ask for anything, April?” June responds, her tone gentle but firm.
April nods reluctantly. “That’s fair,” she concedes, though the suspicion doesn’t entirely leave her eyes.
Gabby scoffs from behind , the sound unexpectedly sharp in the otherwise quiet foyer. “All he ever does is ask us to do stuff,” she says, crossing her arms over her chest.
June gives her youngest sister a look that sohow manages to be both fond and exasperated. “Not that kind of stuff, Gabby,” she says with a pointed emphasis that makes Gabby’s cheeks flush pink.
An awkward silence falls over the group. I shift my weight from one foot to the other, the duffel bag growing heavier by the second.
“So,” June says finally, clapping her hands together with forced brightness, “let’s get you settled, Adam. We’ve got a guest room that should work just fine.”
I nod, relief washing over at the prospect of a safe place to rest. “Thank you,” I say, the words feeling inadequate for the magnitude of what they’re offering. “I really appreciate this.”
June leads the way through the house. Family photos line the hallway walls, capturing the sisters at various ages, always together, always smiling. Connor appears in the more recent ones, his arm around one sister or another, looking happier than I’ve ever seen him.
“Kitchen’s through there,” June says, gesturing to a spacious room with gleaming countertops and a large island. “Help yourself to anything in the fridge. Dining room’s adjacent. Living room you’ve seen.”
We climb a creaking staircase to the second floor, where a wide hallway branches off to several closed doors. June points them out as we pass. “That’s my room, that’s April’s, Gabby’s is at the end, and Connor stays...”
“With all of you, apparently,” I mutter with a smile.
Connor elbows in the ribs, but June just laughs, the sound warm and genuine. “Yes, well, our arrangent is... unconventional,” she admits, not a trace of embarrassnt in her voice. “But it works for us.”
She stops at a door halfway down the hall, pushing it open to reveal a modest but comfortable-looking guest room. A double bed with a navy comforter dominates the space, flanked by two nightstands with reading lamps. A dresser stands against one wall, and a small desk occupies the corner near the window, which overlooks the backyard.
“Bathroom’s just across the hall,” June says, gesturing to a door opposite. “Clean towels in the linen closet next to it.”
I step into the room, feeling the weight of the past weeks begin to lift from my shoulders. The space is simple but immaculate, freshly vacuud carpet, dust-free surfaces, a window cracked open to let in a gentle breeze that stirs the curtains.
“Thanks,” I say, finally setting the heavy duffel bag down next to the bed. The mattress gives slightly as I sit on its edge, testing its firmness. It’s clearly not as good as sothing Caterina can afford, but it’s better than I expected to have today. “This is perfect.”
June nods, her smile warm and genuine. “I’ll leave you to get settled then.”
She turns to leave but pauses in the doorway, her expression becoming serious. “Adam, I don’t know what kind of trouble you’re in, and I’m not going to pry. But you’re safe here, okay?”
The simple kindness in her voice nearly undoes . “Thank you.”
June leaves, pulling the door partially closed behind her. I hear her footsteps retreat down the hallway, followed by the soft murmur of voices too distant to make out.
Connor flops down on the bed beside , bouncing slightly on the mattress. “So, you good?”
I exhale slowly, feeling the tension drain from my body like water from a bathtub. “Yeah, I think I am. For now, at least.”
“Good,” Connor says, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “Because since it’s Saturday, we usually drink and smoke after dinner. Helps everyone unwind, you know?”
My eyes light up at this news. “A few Bevs for the boys?” I ask, feeling a genuine smile spread across my face for the first ti in what feels like forever.
Connor makes an evil smirk. “It’ll be just like college,” he says, nudging my shoulder with his.
I roll my eyes. “Yeah, exactly like you and your college harem,” I say sarcastically.
He laughs. “Yeah, true. I guess we won’t be whining about lack of pussy anymore.”
“I know. But how did you manage to land three won?” I ask, keeping my voice casual despite the burning curiosity.
Connor looks at with genuine confusion. “What do you an?”
“Even if this world is gender-reversed, that’s like if you got three guys to date one girl back in our world. That’s not normal anywhere.”
Connor’s eyebrows shoot up, his blue eyes widening with surprise. “Adam, won outnumber n 3:1 in this world? Did you not research it when you noticed shit was different?”
‘What the fuck? They do?’
Heat rises to my face. “Of course I did,” I lie, not wanting to admit how I spent most of my free ti in this world. “I just... forgot.”
“Tell you didn’t just revert back to anxiously comfort-watching Elden Ring boss fight videos again,” he says, giving that familiar look of exasperated fondness.
“That’s such a fucked up thing to accuse soone of… Of course, that’s not what I’ve been doing.”
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