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.

at me. “Harper, we’ll

one last tear-filled look, then slowly walks toward the door. I fight like hell not to stare after the perfect ass I sunk my teeth into

spin her around-possibly my last moment on this earth since I’m touching her in front of Ryan-and pull her against my chest, thankful that both parents are already

instantly against

I hold her tight.

go fuck

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

who would

even when she cries. I want to go back

I think, as much as I need her, but I have an angry brother/best friend behind me. So, I gently pull away and kiss her on the forehead. “He’s right. Go call Sadie and

nods and then looks over my head at Ryan. “I like him, please don’t kill

“No promises,” Ryan seethes.

look too panicked as Harper kisses me on the cheek and goes inside. Like an idiot, my hand goes to the spot on

shove

pavement, nearly

“Grab a

I walk past him and grab a brush. “So, we aren’t talking about

“If I talk about it, I might actually go to

“We should.”

“Anyone but her, bro.

that he

cans of paint into the tray. “You probably

looks at me for the first time, really looks at me.

the dark, and by the time I realized it was Harper, I

did you just go all poetic

because he’s right. “No, I’m just saying,

He mocks and dips his roller into the

yeah, a handful of tits, ass, and every other fantasy

spot on the garage door. “Right now, the most important thing isn’t you kicking my ass, it’s us finding out who did this shit to

snorts. “What makes you think

I realize the more I talk, the more Ryan looks ready to murder me. “Never mind. It just

“Maybe.” Ryan is silent.

This sucks.

want to

I don’t want to

We work in silence.

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