You’re Mine by Penny Brooks

Chapter 37

Easton

I don’t remember driving to Julia’s house. I mean, clearly I was parked in front staring at the large two-story brick house deep in the suburbs, but I was still thinking about Harper.

About her taste.

About the way she threw me out of her fucking house like I was yesterday’s trash when I was completely innocent-well okay, so not completely innocent but

Aisha had been all up in my business for the last few months, and I’m a guy, so I took her up on it a few times, but now I have a different taste on my tongue.

Too bad she hates me.

With a groan, I kill the engine to my Jeep and distractedly snatch my phone in my hand. It feels like betrayal, even though I know I didn’t do anything wrong.

I let it slide.

Shake it off and get out of the SUV. Is Harper pissed? Yes. But I am too because she’s constantly jumping to conclusions, constantly waiting for me to do the shitty thing.

Do you blame her? A voice says in my head.

“All I do is fuck.” My own stupid ass brain reminds me.

I groan and make my way to the door, but before I can even knock, Aisha is opening it. “You made it.”

Her grin is way too wide and excited like I’m here delivering candy and free weed when really I just want to get in, get my fucking paper written, and leave.

I’m already suspicious of her because, let’s face it-it’s her, so I shove past her and mutter a “whatever” and make my way into the sizable stark home.

It’s one of those houses that tells you exactly what type of people live there without even confessing all the secrets.

Perfect family photos line the white walls.

Expensive candles are littered around the living room-with its fur rugs and high end furniture. Anyone would expect Julia to have the perfect life.

Instead, she flew solo most of the time and used that time to dive into her studies and, in her words, not mine. “Make my parents pay when I have a company bigger than Amazon and give them nothing.”

A bit vindictive? Yes, but I don’t really care.

I just need the paper written so I can get the fuck out of here and go home, then potentially try to figure out where it all went wrong with Harper.

My brain chooses that moment to show me all the moments we had together, her thighs, her mouth, her taste.

“Hey,” Aisha snaps her fingers in front of my face. “You here or what?”

I literally have no idea how I even made it into the kitchen.

With a shrug, I sigh and fall onto one of the metal bar stools. Julia is on her phone texting. Her blonde hair is in a high ponytail that keeps whipping around every time she turns her head.

The doorbell rings.

more

and

the white marble countertop. “So,

money do you have?” She grins at her screen then looks up. “Chill, I’m kidding, we can get it done in an hour or so..” She licks her full pale lips. “By the way, payment should be negotiated first.”

Seriously?

would have said,

I want to

is wrong, just like her mouth, just like her

Everything is fucking wrong.

saying. “I have a thing with

“I can be fast.”

my teeth. Ryan’s voice fills the room as he and

“Go to the Jeep and grab my bag so I can get this shit

Julia smirks. “Someone needs a

glare. “For real, Aisha.” | toss her my keys, “Just grab my shit so I can get

sure Aisha going through your shit is a good idea?”

your panties behind

visibly deflates. “Fineeeee, be right back, limp dick.”

you know it,” I yell

heels clicking against the marble as I hear the door open and then slam closed. I can’t even be pissed. “Yo, Julia,” I snap my fingers in

is ticking–let’s get this

not looking the least bit sorry. “All right, we still have

cheek. My body doesn’t feel a thing as

the counter. “You’re

my hands in surrender.

eyes. “Fine, let me grab my laptop. I need to read over some of your notes so it sounds like some shit you’d actually write, and

Ryan ignores her.

| elbow him.

is taking Aisha

door opens, she’s smoothing down her black leather skirt like she

something in there?”

and shrugs. “You mean other

“Jealous?” | tease.

and drops my bag on

a picture of all of us “studying” and

pisses me the hell

now,

fighting with me

Whatever.

yawns, typing on her

my shit. “I have somewhere

too.” Ryan

“I thought we

“Ryan’s sick.” | lie.