You’re Mine by Penny Brooks

Chapter 58

Easton

My best friend wants to murder me and stand over my bleeding corpse, smiling and kicking until I breathe my last breath.

Actually, I wouldn’t be surprised if he actually just grabs a shovel from the garage in a vain attempt to knock me out and bury me in his backyard next to the tree we carved our initials in.

Huh, how fucking poetic.

I walk behind him, angry that it’s come to this but also angry that he can’t see how much I care for Harper.

worst and has it out for Harper. The look she gave us yesterday is burned into my mind. She’s officially taken it too far.

“Grab a roller,” Ryan barks.

I grab one of the rollers.

He’s silent. He grabs two cans of white paint, a tray, and some plastic. I grab another brush and one more roller, then follow him out of the garage.

Harper is standing in front of it in tears.

“Harper.” It comes out harsher than I would have liked. “We’ll take care of it, just go inside.”

She crosses her arms over her chest like she’s embarrassed.

Does she regret last night and this morning?

Shit, we had sex at least three times, or was that four?

I was kind of rough with her the last time.

Maybe she feels like a whore now?

Clearly the words on the garage could have been written at a better time.

Shit.

I’m not used to feeling insecure. I want to go comfort her, but I figure Ryan and I need to talk before I touch her.

Ryan sets the paint down and curses. “Easton’s right, go inside, call Sadie or something, eat chocolate, do what girls do when they’re sad.”

“You should know what girls do when they’re sad.” It’s like I can’t stop myself from saying these things.

even look at me.

the door. I fight like hell not to stare after the perfect ass

the front door. I spin her around-possibly my last moment on this earth since I’m touching her in front of Ryan-and pull

relaxes instantly

I hold her tight.

go fuck

her tighter, whispering in her ear. “We’ll figure it out, I promise,

who would

happy right now.” I pull back and wipe the tears from beneath her eyes, damn she’s so pretty, even when she cries. I want to go back into that house and lay in bed with her. I want to hand her all the ice cream and candy

need her, but I have an angry brother/best friend behind me. So, I gently pull away and kiss

my head at

“No promises,” Ryan seethes.

too panicked as Harper kisses me on the cheek and goes

hard shove comes from

pavement, nearly falling.

grunts, “Grab

him and grab a brush. “So, we

it, I might actually go

“We should.”

freezes, his hands hovering over the metal lids. “Anyone but

that he looks sad

one of the cans of paint into the tray. “You probably

looks at me.

was making out with in the dark, and by the time I realized it

shit, did you just go all poetic about

because he’s right. “No, I’m just

He mocks and dips his roller into

yeah, a handful of tits, ass, and every other fantasy I have, but I restrain

door. “Right now, the most important thing isn’t you kicking my ass, it’s us finding out who did this shit to your garage. It has to be Aisha, she’s been all

“What makes you think it wasn’t

was pissed yesterday and in complete attack mode, it didn’t help that Harper and I took off or kissed or…” I realize the more I talk, the more Ryan looks ready to

“Maybe.” Ryan is silent.

This sucks.

want to lose my

don’t want

We work in silence.

with coffee and some breakfast burritos, then goes back inside without