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.

now, Easton.” He doesn’t even look at me. “Harper, we’ll figure

like hell not to stare

right hand reaches for the front door. I spin her around-possibly my last moment on this earth since I’m touching her in front

instantly

I hold her tight.

go fuck

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

who would do

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

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

head at Ryan. “I like

“No promises,” Ryan seethes.

kisses me on the cheek and goes inside. Like an idiot, my hand goes to the

shove comes from

pavement, nearly falling. “What

grunts, “Grab a

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

it, I might actually

“We should.”

his hands hovering over the metal lids. “Anyone but her, bro. Why did

fact that he looks sad kills

and start pouring one of the cans of paint into the

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

by the time I realized it was Harper, I was already too far gone to do anything but

go all poetic about

“No, I’m just saying,

dips his roller into the tray.

ass, and every other fantasy I have,

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

you think it

help that Harper and I took off or kissed or…” I realize the more I

“Maybe.” Ryan is silent.

This sucks.

to

I don’t want

We work in silence.

breakfast burritos, then goes back