You’re Mine by Penny Brooks

Chapter 34

Harper

Easton thinks he owns me, that every happy expression that crosses my face is due to him.

Screw that.

But the truth is, Easton’s message is what caused me to grin. I had just flipped to Blake’s text when Easton saw me, the timing just couldn’t have been more perfect.

I’ll never tell him that though.

As far as he’s concerned, Blake makes me smile too, and it needs to stay that way.

I continue down the hallway when Sadie stops me and says, “Whoa. I just saw Easton and he looks like he’s about to murder someone. Any idea what that’s about?”

I shrug. “He read a text that Blake sent me. Maybe it has something to do with that

-I mean, hopefully it does.”

“Blake and … you?” Her eyebrows lift so high, they look like they’re about to get lost in her hairline.

“It’s not what you think. He just asked me out for dinner.”

She laughs. “Really? And you think that clarifies my questions somehow?” She adjusts her bag. “Unless he’s feeling you, he’s not going to ask you out to dinner.”

I tuck a chunk of hair behind my ear, the smell of Easton’s shampoo from this morning’s shower still so present, something I’m not even close to getting used to. “I’m not interested. He’s the biggest player at school.”

“And Easton’s not?”

“And Ryan’s not?” I argue back.

“Okay, good point, the three of them are equal in the player department. But we both know I’m going to mold Ryan into the man I want him to be and you’re going to do the same with Easton. Or is it Blake? I feel lost-again.”

I wrap my arm around hers and start walking. “It’s Easton. It’s only ever been Easton.”

But I can’t deny that having Blake’s attention is an interesting feeling. One I’ve never had before. Probably because Sadie is the only person who’s ever cared about me. And now, suddenly, there’s two new numbers in my phone and both are texting me on the same day.

My mind is blown.

turn,” I say, reminding her of the conversation from the

with books. “Well, like I said, we‘ve been talking more.

he’s not treating you like

“Things are good.” She looks at me, biting her lip. “And, God, you know I’m positively crazy about him. That’s

don’t want him to

as his friends. When it comes

stop them, they

Always.

won’t, I won’t let him.

want to stop right here,” Blake says, approaching us as we’re nearing the

“Why?” Sadie asks.

wrote something on your car.” He

“Wrote something?” I inquire.

like the sound of

picking up speed as Blake keeps his eyes

it say?” I

down, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallows. When he finally looks up again, he says, “Why don’t you let Ryan and Sadie deal with this, and we’ll go grab

He’s protecting me.

But why?

What does it say?

me what’s on their cars, Blake. I’m not leaving this school until I

soften, his hand reaching for mine. His thumb grazes across the back of my palm as he replies, “Someone wrote, your sister is a slut, on Ryan’s

will kill whoever did this.” She looks at me. “Not because of my car, I don’t give a

you.”

is so tight, I have almost no voice when I

me

be that mad about Blake’s text, not

school barely knows me. I’m Ryan’s sister

I promise you, we’re going to find

throat, hoping the tightness will lessen. “Will the

thought of my parents seeing this when they get home from work makes me want to die even

the washable kind that the cheerleaders use for homecoming when they decorate the football players’ cars,”

going to run back into school and grab some wet napkins,” Sadie tells me. “I’ll clean the glass super quickly,