In this quote from "Anna and the French Kiss" by Stephanie Perkins, the speaker expresses their fondness for St. Claire but feels unable to openly admit it. The reason for this hesitation is their concern about how their close friend might react to a drunken declaration of love.
The speaker emphasizes the importance of friendship and the boundaries that come with it, suggesting that friends should prevent each other from acting impulsively when intoxicated. This highlights the value they place on their friendship and the importance of respecting feelings and situations carefully.