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.”

minutes,” I squeal, and

o

I only fill in the few spots the silicon doesn’t cover, and I add a deep red lipstick. I slick

every angle in my small, full-length mirror, and then

up and down. “Who are

“What do you mean?”

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

minx.”

I laugh. “Let’s

and we climb into the backseat, heading to the other side of

white pillars. The massive brick mansion spans almost

you ready?” Sadie

Chiper

for

the moment we get inside. Ryan won’t be the one to kick me out, but I

if he recognizes me as the

ever

fog, decorations hanging from the tall ceiling, we’re met with cutout pumpkins and cackling goblins. Everyone is dressed in costume, masks and makeup,

more revealing than mine.

don’t see Easton or Ryan

have an idea,” Sadie says, pulling me past the entrance, into a large sitting area

“What kind of idea?”

the house where he keeps his Porsche and a whole fridge stocked with beer. You go grab us

here.”

“He doesn’t know?”

told him she was dragging me here, and I need Ryan on my side

I was coming.” She runs her finger down the air in front of

“Sadie”

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

knots in my belly are starting to really ache. “Are

way.” She points

what

hallway, last door on the right.” Her

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