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 it out,

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 and nearly fail as

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

relaxes instantly against

I hold her tight.

go

to sob as I clench her tighter, whispering in her

who would

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 the ice cream and candy she needs then worship her body with my mouth. Her surrender

behind me. So, I gently pull away

nods and then looks over my head at Ryan. “I

“No promises,” Ryan seethes.

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

hard shove

pavement, nearly falling.

grunts, “Grab a

a brush. “So,

about it, I might actually go to prison, so

“We should.”

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

that he looks sad

sigh and start pouring one of the cans of paint into the tray. “You probably won’t believe me, but

He looks at me for the first time, really looks

with in the dark, and by the time I realized it was Harper, I was already too

just go all poetic about my fucking sister right

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

his roller into the

want to say yeah, a handful of tits, ass,

I work on my spot on the garage door. “Right now, the most important thing isn’t you kicking my ass, it’s

you think

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

“Maybe.” Ryan is silent.

This sucks.

want to lose

want to lose Harper

We work in silence.

some breakfast