You’re Mine by Penny Brooks

Chapter 41

Harper

I rush into the bathroom and make sure that I don’t have black mascara running down my cheeks.

Aisha clearly has the worst timing.

And Easton clearly has no balls.

I mean, he does, duh, but I want to scream, why does everything have to be so complicated and dramatic.

Islam my hands onto the sink. A stall door opens. Sadie takes one look at my reflection in the mirror and the angry way I’m gripping the sink and rushes over. “What happened?”

“Easton,” I say his name like a swear word. “He’s just so hot and cold, and just SO…” | throw my hands up. “He’s warning me away from Blake now as if he has a right to. It’s so stupid!”

“Hold up.” Sadie washes her hands and grabs a paper towel. “The most popular boy in school who was just making out with you in the library warned you away from the other popular guy he’s always been competing against…did he say why?”

I frown. “Well, Blake talked to me this morning, and I did flirt, but it wasn’t anything that Easton’s never pulled with Aisha.” Maybe I was being defensive, but I hated how much Easton saw-like he’s fully aware of the power he holds over me and lives for my surrender, so yeah, if a hot guy’s gonna flirt with me like Blake, right in front of the guy I really like who’s driving me crazy, what do you think’s going to happen?

“Ah, double standards, gotta love em.” Sadie rolls her eyes. “Look, if Blake is giving you attention, it’s not a big deal. If Easton can’t handle that, then he can just grow a bigger dick and learn how to pursue a girl without snapping his fingers.”

“Yeah.” I sniffle. “I guess.”

Do. Not. Think. About. His. Dick.

“Don’t overthink it, plus we have a pep rally to go to, and you know I like it when the football team runs by in those tight pants.”

I laugh. “They aren’t even that tight.”

“Tell that to DJ’s dick. God, I love sports.”

I smile and then laugh. “You’re such a horny slut. Quick, what’s it called a touchdown or a goal?.”

running the ball, does it really

laugh and roll my eyes, distracted and feeling just a bit

and walk out of the bathroom just in time for the first warning bell to ring for the

left all my stuff at the table.” I rush past Sadie and go into the cafeteria to

quickly dump my trash and grab

before. Maybe because I knew he was always off-limits, and he’s never really flirted with me in a way that didn’t make me want to knee him in the balls? I swear his green eyes sparkle as he walks over to me. Jeans tight, short sleeve

nod my head clinging to my backpack.

part where you tell me what asses guys are or where you confess it’s that time of the month, and I should approach you

I blind you?”

the most tame scenario I could come up with. So what is it?” He’s so confident standing there watching me. He isn’t intense and he doesn’t hover too close. It’s almost like

react to him?

asses.”

his hand for a high five. I hit it, grab my bag, and follow him out of the cafeteria toward

bag on me when Blake stops in his tracks. “Shit, I think I left my

I nod then start looking around for Sadie or

fountain to fill up my leopard Swell bottle. By the time I’m done, mostly everyone is

sound system.

I smile to myself.

Ah, high school.

the most negative emo kid wanna do a little fist bump and

a cheerleading uniform out of the corner of my eye. Of course, it’s Aisha,

eye and then grabs at something or someone in the dark hallway

recognize

the wall, then leans up on her tiptoes, pulling his neck down

I lose it.

and utterly lose

thing to

another thing to have to watch

knowing he was just