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.

doesn’t even look at me. “Harper,

gives us both 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 last night

I can’t stop my feet as they move toward her. Harper’s 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 of Ryan-and pull her

instantly against

I hold her tight.

go

starts to sob as I clench her tighter, whispering in her ear. “We’ll

would

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

So, I gently pull away and kiss her on the forehead.

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

hard shove comes from

nearly falling. “What the hell

grunts, “Grab

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

talk about it, I might actually go to

“We should.”

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

that he looks

pouring one of the cans of paint into the tray. “You probably won’t believe

for the first time, really looks at

and by the time I realized it was Harper, I was already too far gone

“Holy shit, did you just go all poetic about my fucking

because he’s right. “No, I’m

his roller into the tray. “And she’s a

of tits, ass, and every other fantasy I have,

“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

snorts. “What makes you think it wasn’t

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

“Maybe.” Ryan is silent.

This sucks.

don’t want to lose my best

I don’t want

We work in silence.

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