My Brob GF Ch 26: The Beginning Of Vacation!

Harper carried me in the palm of her hand, her fingers curled ever so slightly to keep me safe as we made our way to the kitchen. The sway of her steps was enough to make my stomach do flips, but I kept my eyes fixed forward, trying to convince myself that I wasn't secretly terrified of falling.

"You doing okay down there?" she asked, peering down at me with an amused smile as she walked.

"Oh, just fine," I said, trying to sound casual, even though my voice cracked just a little. "Not every day you're carried to dinner by a living mountain."

She smirked at that, her laughter rumbling in her chest. "Well, get used to it. I'm not about to let you starve on my watch."

When we got to the kitchen, she set me down gently on the counter, and I was greeted by a spread of food that looked like a feast for the ages. Everything was enormous, of course. A loaf of bread the size of a house, a stick of butter that could crush my car, and vegetables so large I could probably live inside one of them and still have room for 100 more.

"I wasn't sure what you'd like, so I figured I'd make a little bit of everything," Harper said as she started cutting slices of bread with a knife that looked like it could double as a guillotine.

"A little bit, huh?" I muttered, watching her work.

For my part, she had set aside some crumbs—literal crumbs—from the bread she sliced, paired with a few carefully chopped pieces of cheese and a dollop of butter the size of my torso. She even had a Lilliputian-sized plate and cup, which she placed in front of me with the precision of a surgeon.

"Where did you even get these plates and cups?" I asked as I climbed onto the chair she'd set up for me, which was more like a flat platform with a railing.

"They're from a specialty shop," she said, grinning. "Figured I'd need them if I was ever going to have company."

"Company?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

Her grin widened, and she shrugged as she sat down across from me, her massive frame making the table groan slightly. "Hey, I like to be prepared."

As we ate, the conversation drifted to lighter topics—our favorite foods, funny stories from work, that sort of thing. It felt surprisingly normal, considering the circumstances. Harper asked about my plans for the next few days, and I realized she'd put a lot of thought into this.

"So," she said, leaning forward slightly, her head resting in her hand as she looked down at me, "I was thinking we could go to the Brobdingnagian botanical gardens tomorrow. They've got this whole section dedicated to Lilliputian visitors—tiny pathways, little exhibits, all that stuff. I thought you might like it."

"Sounds... big," I said, earning a chuckle from her.

"Very funny," she said, smirking. "But seriously, it's beautiful. After that, maybe we can check out the city center. There's a museum that has artifacts from both Brob and Lilli cultures. And if you're up for it, there's a place that does hot air balloon rides for Lilliputians over the Brobdingnagian skyline."

I raised an eyebrow at that. "A balloon ride? Isn't that a little redundant when I'm already surrounded by giants?"

She laughed, shaking her head. "Fair point, but it's supposed to be an amazing view. Anyway, we'll take it one day at a time. I don't want to overwhelm you."

By the time we finished dinner, I was feeling a lot more comfortable. Harper's careful attention to detail—making sure I had the right plates, being so careful with everything—put me at ease. I finished my meal and placed my tiny plate and cup onto her fingernail, which she'd extended toward me like a serving tray.

"How exactly do you plan on cleaning these?" I asked, gesturing to the minuscule plate and cup.

Harper tilted her head, considering the question. "I've got a special set of tools for that," she said with a grin. "Don't worry—I've got it all figured out."

I wasn't entirely convinced, but I decided not to press the issue.

After dinner, she carefully carried me into her bedroom, her hand as steady as a platform as she placed me on her dresser. "Hang tight for a second," she said, crouching down and rummaging through one of the lower drawers.

When she stood back up, she was holding a Lilliputian-sized house. It was fully furnished, with tiny windows, a front door, and even a little porch. She set it down on the dresser next to me, her eyes sparkling with pride.

"This is where you'll be staying," she said with a smile.

I stared at the house, then back at her. "You do realize I live in an apartment, right? This is, like, a mansion compared to what I'm used to."

She laughed, her voice warm. "Well, consider it an upgrade."

I stepped inside, taking in the miniature furniture and cozy layout. "Not bad," I called out, turning back to her. "You really went all out."

She smiled, her cheeks flushing slightly as she turned away. "You can stay as long as you want, you know," she said, her voice quieter than usual.

"What?" I asked, blinking in surprise.

"Nothing," she said quickly, turning back around. The sudden movement made the dresser shake slightly, and I grabbed onto the doorframe of the tiny house for balance.

I decided not to push the topic, instead getting myself comfortable. I changed into my pajamas, thankful that I'd packed enough for the trip. Harper busied herself on the other side of the room, and I couldn't help but glance in her direction as she pulled on a loose-fitting shirt and a pair of shorts. Part of me wondered if she'd noticed, but I wasn't about to admit I'd been watching.

Once we were both settled, she leaned down slightly to look at me. "Goodnight, Ethan," she said softly, her expression warm.

"Goodnight, Harper," I replied, giving her a small smile.

As I climbed into the tiny bed, I couldn't help but feel a strange sense of peace. Despite all the fears and doubts that had been running through my head, being here with Harper felt... right. Maybe, just maybe, this could work after all.