You’re Mine by Penny Brooks

Chapter 57

Harper

In huge ugly letters, the word whore is spray-painted in black, covering the entire garage door for the subdivision to see.

This is so much worse than my locker.

I cover my mouth with my hands as tears form. I stumble out, “Who would do this?”

“We asked the same thing.” Dad kicks at the grass in frustration and looks across the street. “For all his neighbor stalking, Mr. Mann had his Ring camera turned down so that the damn cat across the street would stop setting it off when it shits in his yard.”

“He hates that cat” I say lamely.

“Yup.” Dad nods then cranes his neck toward me. “Harper. is something going on? Really.” The way he looks at me kills a part of my soul. I’ve always been the good twin, the one who never got into trouble, the one people never suspected.

Now I had enough drama in the last few weeks to keep me occupied for life.

I’m also very aware that the look my mom keeps giving me means she’s so disappointed in me. I pray she hasn’t seen Easton’s Jeep. I mean, he parked further down the street but still… Hopefully, she hasn’t noticed Ryan’s not here, but his best friend is. Have they checked around the house? I didn’t hear the stairs creak, so I can only hope they just got home.

I feel sick to my stomach, this is so bad. So bad. And just when I think it can’t get worse, I hear Ryan’s truck start barreling down the street at exactly the same time Easton comes strolling out the front door.

What the heck is Easton doing?

I can only guess he saw Ryan’s car from upstairs and ran down, hoping to intercept him.

parents still outside, his eyes widen even further when Ryan pulls up

a look of

the calculations

Smart one, remember?

life if

kick Easton’s ass. “See,

very –Worried that she’d keep him all day. You never know how long…” He puts special emphasis on the word long. “-.these things can last, hours or

slaps Easton on the back. Hard, then grabs him by the back of his neck and squeezes. “And leave my best friend alone with my sister? The one I trust

being so ridiculous, then again, we‘re all screwed if

but something tells me that Ryan wasn’t at Sadie’s house watching a movie

wrap an arm around Ryan, pulling him even closer. “You know me when I love someone, it goes beyond

spits. At this point, they’re joined in this weird

It’s weird as hell.

way my parents are

barks. “You know we don’t

smiles at Easton. He’s lucky his charm works on everyone.

Easton smirks..

for him. I take one look at Ryan’s face and decide it will need to be a closed

Dad takes a step toward them, his eyes darting between the guys. “How didn’t you hear someone outside last night? What the

smirks and follows it with.

I inwardly groan.

he poke