My Brob GF Ch 32: The End Of The First Day Or Not?

(Ethan)

I sat cross-legged in the middle of Harper's palm, my entire world swaying slightly with every small movement of her hand. It wasn't enough to throw me off balance, but it was enough to remind me of just how tiny I really was compared to her.

And even smaller compared to her friend.

Dolores—or Darcy, as Harper called her—was still watching me. Not in a curious, friendly way, but in a way that made my skin crawl. Like I was something she was studying, or worse, assessing.

When Harper had come back, I'd practically frozen in place. Normally, I'd jump into her hand the second she lowered it, but this time? I hesitated. My muscles tensed up, my mind replaying everything Dolores had just told me. Harper hadn't seemed to notice my hesitation, but Dolores definitely had. I caught the brief smirk she gave me, like she knew she had gotten into my head.

So yeah. Let's just say I wasn't exactly feeling relaxed as I sat there drinking my massive drop of orange juice.

Harper had placed it in the middle of her palm, using the end of her straw to carefully lower a single droplet of juice. To her, it was barely anything. To me? It was the size of a beach ball. I had to lean forward, cupping my hands to scoop small handfuls into my mouth like I was drinking from a damn lake.

Above me, the two Brobs were talking. Their voices rumbled from high up, their conversation flowing effortlessly between them. It was surreal—just the sheer scale of it all.

Harper sat relaxed, one leg crossed over the other, her fingers curled slightly around me as she spoke. Her face loomed miles above, her features soft and open as she chatted with her friend. Her brown eyes, though focused mostly on Darcy, kept flicking down toward me every few minutes.

Like she was checking in.

Making sure I was still there.

She really was thoughtful.

Darcy, meanwhile, sat on the bench with one leg pulled up, her arms resting on her knee. She had that same easy confidence as Harper, but there was something sharper in her expression. A knowing smirk, a gleam in her hazel eyes. Her orange hair fell in loose waves over her shoulder, catching the sunlight as she leaned forward just a little.

"So, Ethan..." She dragged my name out, drawing Harper's attention to me again. "What's it like being pampered by someone as gorgeous as Harper?"

I blinked up at her, unsure if that was a genuine question or some kind of test. "...Uh, pretty great?"

Darcy grinned. "I bet. If I were you, I'd never let go of her."

Harper chuckled, shaking her head. "Oh, he doesn't. He clings to me like a little monkey when I carry him."

I scoffed. "Hey, I'd like to see you try hanging onto something thousands of times bigger than you. Gravity's a lot meaner at my size."

Harper giggled. "I know, I'm just messing with you."

Darcy hummed, tapping her fingers on her knee. "You know, Harper, I'm starting to think you're being a little selfish."

Harper raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"Yeah." Darcy smirked, tilting her head. "Keeping him all to yourself like this. I mean, look at him—he's adorable."

Harper's fingers curled just a little tighter around me, a protective gesture that didn't go unnoticed.

"He's taken, Darcy."

Darcy pouted playfully. "Such a shame... I'd love to have a little Lilli of my own."

I swallowed, keeping my face neutral. Yeah, that's not terrifying at all.

Harper shot her friend a look. "You already have a cat. I think that's enough responsibility for you."

Darcy let out a dramatic sigh, placing a hand over her chest. "Wow. Rude."

Harper smirked, but I could tell she was keeping an eye on me even as she teased.

I stayed quiet, focused on my juice, but deep down, I knew one thing for sure—Dolores wasn't joking.

***

(Harper)

The day had been perfect—or at least, Harper thought so.

She had taken Ethan all over the city, letting him see her world in ways that most Lillis never got to experience. They ate together at one of her favorite restaurants, where she had a meal big enough to feed a family while Ethan nibbled on a portion of bread she had carefully torn off for him. They shopped for new clothes, and Harper had just about lost her mind when she found a tiny Lilli-sized hoodie that would fit Ethan. She had needed to see him wear it.

And when they went to the Lilliputian Museum? That had been the highlight of it all.

Ethan had looked so happy. He had wandered through the displays, staring in awe at the history of his people—how they had built civilizations, developed technology, and survived in a world where everything was thousands of times bigger than them. Harper had watched him the entire time, her heart swelling at how much he loved being there.

It had been perfect.

And yet... as the day went on, something changed.

Harper had been keeping an eye on him through her Lilli contact lenses, and she could see it clearly—the shift in his mood. He wasn't talking as much. He still smiled at her, still responded when she spoke, but the spark of excitement had dimmed. And he kept looking at Darcy.

What the hell did she say to him?

Harper knew Ethan wasn't naturally talkative. Even when they first started getting close, he was quiet, and it was usually up to her to start conversations. But this silence was different.

If Darcy had ruined this for her—if she had gotten into Ethan's head and made him afraid of being around Brobs—Harper was going to kick her ass.

As they walked down the street, Darcy finally stretched her arms over her head and let out a satisfied sigh.

"Well, this was fun," she said. "But I gotta go get my pump in. Meet you at the gym later?"

Harper nodded, watching as Darcy shot her a wink and strolled off down the street.

Harper didn't say anything, but she clenched her teeth. The gym would be the perfect place to get answers.

She turned and walked into her apartment, shutting the door behind her. Without wasting a second, she stepped over to the table, unclipping the small compartment from her necklace and carefully placing it down.

With a soft click, the door slid open, and Ethan stepped out.

Harper bent down, resting her arms on the table until her face was level with him. Even from this distance, he was so small—a tiny figure standing on the surface of her table, barely the size of her fingernail.

She offered him a soft smile. "Hope you had a good time today."

Ethan nodded. "Yeah... it was fun."

Something about the way he said it didn't sit right with her, but she let it go—for now.

"Sorry I have to leave you by yourself for a few hours," she said. "But I left the Lilli house right here, so you can watch TV or eat something if you want. It's all on me, so don't even think about paying."

Ethan frowned, shifting his weight. "I could just come with you."

Harper sighed, shaking her head. "Nah. It's too dangerous where I'm going."

Ethan didn't argue, but she could tell he wasn't happy about it.

She straightened up, walking into her bedroom to change. In just a few minutes, she was back, dressed in a white sports bra and black sweatpants—tight, stretchy, and leaving very little to the imagination.

Ethan looked up as she walked back in, his eyes flicking over her outfit before quickly looking away.

"Where are you going?" he asked.

Harper grabbed a hair tie from the counter, pulling her hair back into a ponytail. "Going to work out with Darcy. Should be back in a few hours."

She turned toward the door, but as she did, her hip accidentally knocked against the table.

She didn't even notice.

Ethan, on the other hand, definitely did.

The sudden impact sent him stumbling. He flailed his arms, trying to catch his balance, but the force of the hit was too strong. The next thing he knew, the world tilted, and he was falling.

He barely had time to react before he landed on something soft.

And then... he sank.

The scent hit him immediately—warm, musky, slightly sweet with a hint of sweat. The air was humid, the ground beneath him soft and textured, and the walls around him curved upward like the inside of a cavern.

It took him a moment to realize where he was.

He had fallen into Harper's shoe.

And she had no idea.