You’re Mine by Penny Brooks

Easton

From my classroom, I can hear Aisha’s voice in the hallway, the rotten snarkiness in her tone, the evil words she’s spewing. My teacher isn’t going to do anything to stop Aisha, she just continues lecturing, but I can’t ignore what I’m hearing because I know there’s only one person who can be taking those verbal punches.

My fucking girl.

I tell my teacher I’m going to the bathroom and haul ass into the hallway. I make it just in time to see Aisha yanking on Harper’s hair.

That fucking bitch. She’s pushed every goddamn button of mine … and I have no patience left.

I’m seeing red by the time I growl my second warning at her, “Did you fucking hear me, Aisha? Let her go right now.” When she stops tugging on her hair but doesn’t let Harper go, I tear Aisha’s hand away, freeing Harper, and pull her into my arms. “Are you all right?” I ask her.

It takes her a second to respond, “Yes.”

The hatred pulsing through my body makes my jaws tighten. “Don’t ever touch my girl again.”

“Your .* girl?” Aisha stammers.

“Yes. My fucking girl.”

“That’s what she is to you now? But what was the other night? When you were in my room, between my,”

“Harper and I are together now.” While I hold Harper against my chest, I glare at Aisha, disgusted by the innocent look on her face. “You need to accept that and stop all this bullshit.” My arm lowers, wrapping around Harper’s curvy waist. “If you have a problem, you take it up with me, not Harper. Do you understand me?”

“But Easton-”

“The only thing I want to hear from you is yes.”

I don’t wait for her to say it, since I know she’s not going to, and I turn Harper around and lead us in the opposite direction, holding her tightly to my side. “Do you want to get out of here?” I ask when we’re halfway down the hall.

“Here?” There’s emotion in her voice. “You mean school? But we still have a few periods to go.”

“I’ll get us excused.”

“How?”

just going to have to trust

She nods. “Okay.”

I place her against the wall right outside the door. “I’ll be right back, don’t move.” I walk inside, stopping at the counter, waiting for Leigh, the office

Leigh’s face heats up as she

pulling out a fifty that

holds on a few seconds longer than she needs to, pulling away to put the money in

“Yes.”

like your mom called

hooked up only once, and then she felt guilty

once had

mom?” | ask. “She happen to

“I expect a phone call

her and rejoin Harper, my arm finding its place around her shoulders. “Let’s go

to get in

is adorable. “No, not even

walk to her locker, and she starts putting her books into her bag. “How do

“Do what?”

looks at me as she heads through the doorway, my

of freedom flies over my face. “I don’t know what

a minute of detention, you stopped Aisha from strangling me to death. What

hardening as I get a taste of her tongue. The grind of her hips

moans against

get to my

opens the door, climbing inside, showing me how ready she is. I hurry to the other side and start the

have to

on her upper thigh, noticing the