You’re Mine by Penny Brooks

Chapter 9

Harper

The nerve of him.

Ugh, I’m so mad I’m shaking.

And it’s been six days since Easton said I’m not allowed to come to his party, and I’m still as furious as when he’d first told me.

Who cares if I’m Ryan’s sister? My brother flirts with girls in front of me, he’s stringing along my best friend, but all of that’s okay because he’s a boy?

Well, it’s not okay. It’s a double standard.

What makes it worse is that Easton is the one who uninvited me. It couldn’t have been Ryan or Blake, it had to be the guy I have the biggest crush on. The guy whose mouth I can’t stop fantasizing about. The costume ! ordered online with Easton in mind just in case I ran into him at a party.

Now, I won’t even be leaving my bed tonight.

And that’s exactly what I plan to tell Sadie when she pops her head into my doorway and says, “Get dressed, we’re going.”

I shake my head. “Nope. I’m not. You are.”

Chit

“Do you honestly think I’m going to let you sit home tonight?” She moves over to my chair where I’d placed the box my costume is in. “Or that Easton was really serious about what he said?”

I cross my arms to stop my hands from shaking. “Oh, he was serious, all right.”

“Remember when Ryan was having a heart attack over your bikini?” She reaches into the box and takes out the costume. “I’m positive that’s why Easton said that to you. He’s looking out for his best friend, who prefers his sister dressed in a big, baggy tent.” She holds up the leotard that’s

supposed to make me look like a cat. It comes with thigh-high boots, a long tail, and a silicon masquerade mask that covers most of my face, the top adorned with cute little ears. “And this is definitely no tent, this is s-e-x-y, whoa!” She glances from me to the skintight leotard. “You’re going to be the hottest one there.”

“You’re going to be, because I’ll be right here …” I point down at my mattress. “In bed.”

She sits beside me, her hands resting over mine. “I’m going to put this as nicely as I can.” She grins. “You have exactly twenty minutes to get ready or I’m

carrying you outside and we’re going whether you’re in a costume or not.” She squeezes my fingers. “Understood?”

My stomach leaps at the thought of seeing Easton even if I still want to strangle him

I push my back against the wall behind my bed. “It sounds like you’re giving me no choice.”

She taps my hands. “Good, my message was loud and clear, then.”

and I hurry

o

of it’s black, I only fill in the few spots the silicon doesn’t cover, and I add a deep red lipstick. I slick down my

mirror, and then I turn toward Sadie. “How

eyes me up and down. “Who are

“What do you mean?”

mean, I know my best friend is in there somewhere,

minx.”

God,” I laugh. “Let’s

a car, and we climb into the backseat, heading to the other side

pillars. The massive brick mansion spans almost an entire block, the music

you ready?” Sadie asks,

Chiper

for the

breaths, preparing myself for the rejection 1 may receive the moment we get inside. Ryan won’t be the one to kick me out, but

if he recognizes me as the girl from

as I’ll ever be,” I tell

with a thick fog, decorations hanging from the tall ceiling, we’re met

more revealing than mine.

Easton or Ryan

idea,” Sadie says, pulling me past the entrance, into

“What kind of idea?”

told me Easton’s dad has a small garage off the side of the house where he keeps his Porsche and a whole fridge stocked with beer. You go grab us two beers and I’m going to find Ryan and gentle break

here.”

“He doesn’t know?”

stomach. I had assumed Sadie told him she was dragging me here, and I need Ryan on my side in case Easton gets cranky again and

when I told him I was coming.” She runs her finger down the air in front of me. “And he’s not going to be happy

“Sadie”

it’ll be fine. I’ll meet you in the kitchen in a few

are starting to really

that way.” She points

what

left at the stove and it’s at the end of the hallway, last door on the right.”

to look for them while I walk toward the kitchen, reciting her directions in my head. There are so many people here, it’s hard to navigate the thick crowd and the furniture that’s like a maze and the fog that’s