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 figure it out,

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

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 her against my chest, thankful that both parents

relaxes instantly against

I hold her tight.

go fuck

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

would do

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 bed with her. I want to hand her all

me. So, I gently

nods and then looks over my head at

“No promises,” Ryan seethes.

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

shove comes from

pavement, nearly falling. “What

“Grab a

I walk past him and grab a brush. “So,

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

“We should.”

“Anyone but her, bro. Why did it have to

fact that he

the cans of paint into the tray. “You probably won’t believe me, but

He looks at me for the first time, really looks at me. “How did you not know

the dark, and by the

did you just go all poetic about my fucking sister

“No, I’m just

and dips his roller into the tray. “And she’s

of tits, ass, and every other fantasy

on 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

you think it wasn’t

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

“Maybe.” Ryan is silent.

This sucks.

to lose my best

I don’t want to

We work in silence.

outside with coffee and some breakfast burritos, then goes back