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.

Easton.” He doesn’t even look at me. “Harper,

I fight like hell not to stare after the perfect ass

her. Harper’s right hand reaches for the front door. I spin her around-possibly my last moment on this earth

relaxes instantly

I hold her tight.

go

to sob as I clench her tighter, whispering in her

would

few people who aren’t so 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

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

and then looks over my head at Ryan.

“No promises,” Ryan seethes.

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

shove comes from

the pavement, nearly falling. “What the

grunts, “Grab

walk past him and grab a

jerks open both cans of paint. “If I talk about it, I might actually go to prison, so no, we aren’t

“We should.”

over the metal lids. “Anyone but her, bro. Why did it have to

that he looks sad

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

looks at me. “How did you

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

shit, did you just go all poetic about my fucking sister right

because he’s right. “No, I’m

a simp.” He mocks and dips his roller into the

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

my 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 your garage. It has to

you think it wasn’t someone

pissed yesterday and in complete attack mode, it didn’t help that Harper and I took off or kissed or…” I realize the

“Maybe.” Ryan is silent.

This sucks.

want to

I don’t want to lose Harper

We work in silence.

comes back outside with coffee and some breakfast burritos,