You’re Mine by Penny Brooks

Chapter 52

Harper

Easton whirls around when he feels me touch his arm, his blue eyes widening in surprise that I’m the one standing next to him. Confusion fills his gaze and he glances toward Blake, who I was with only seconds ago.

I couldn’t take it anymore, pretending Blake was a sufficient substitute. And it definitely didn’t feel right with his arm around my shoulders, as if he was trying to claim me when he’s not the one I want.

That’s why I ran to Easton. It killed me, witnessing the agony on his face while Blake yelled at him. My brother may be watching us, as well as the rest of the entire school, but I don’t care.

I want to be with Easton.

But does he want to be with me?

“Say it,” I whisper, fear gripping me. “If you can’t tell my brother you want to be with me, I can’t keep doing this.”

He blinks at me, his lips parting and my heart stalls in my throat.

What if he tells Ryan he doesn’t want to be with me? What then?

“Get your pretty ass over here, Harper!” Blake bellows. “Show that asshole who vou really want!”

“Shut the hell up, Blake!” Ryan yells.

A trickle of relief flows through me at my brother’s words, but Easton still hasn’t said a damn word.

Dread curdling in my stomach, I stand a little taller.

“What’ll it be?” I ask, my voice low so no one else can hear me. “Do you want to be with me? Because I refuse to be your dirty little secret.”

“Harper.” He breathes out my name, taking a step closer, and I don’t retreat. He reaches up to lightly touch my face and my eyes fall shut, savoring the sensation of his fingers on my skin.

He immediately drops his hand and I open my eyes, watching as he looks over at Blake, who’s positively fuming, and then my brother. His two closest friends, yet here I am, like I’m coming in between all of them.

out of my life,” Easton says, his voice strong. Everyone

as he sends me an unsure look, his expression – petrified. I grab his hand and pull him to me, his arms automatically going around

In front of everyone.

The entire parking lot.

probably the entire

kiss is hard, as if he’s proving a point, and

actual

“Finally!” Sadie squeals.

“Fuck you, Easton!”

This comes from Blake.

despite the rain. His kiss is drugging, lulling me into a trance with every stroke of his tongue. Until I finally have to pull away before things become too heated, noting the dazed

I look exactly the same way.

I murmur. “You

mine, staring into

stretching my lips as I slip

my fingers into his damp

else, he kisses me again, ending it quick when Ryan screams a string of curse words. My brother storms off, Sadie right on his heels as

face red, his

and you know it. You just hate to lose.” Blake thrusts his finger at us. “He’s going to use you up and spit you out, baby girl. And when it’s all said and done, don’t bother running back to

away from Easton, but he tightens his grip on me, not allowing me to chase after

my temple as Blake jumps into his truck and starts the

This isn’t how I imagined it would go down between us. Not even close. “He probably

glances down at me, his brows rising. “Were

was always so kind to me.” Funny. Flirty. I didn’t understand Blake’s sudden interest. Like he almost knew

not wanting to

look on Easton’s face tells me he understands. “He knew you were vulnerable. He could sense it.” He inhales sharply, his cheeks turning ruddy. “Like a damn

Easton.” I laugh, but it’s shaky. “You’re

turns to me, about to speak,

Aisha.

her. They both have looks of utter disgust on their faces and when our gazes meet,