You’re Mine by Penny Brooks

Chapter 77

Harper

I feel him inside me, all around me, the way his muscles strain and tense like he wants to stay in this moment, in the hot tub until the end of time.

Instead, he pulls away from me like he’s about to say goodbye.

“Easton?” I cup his jaw. “What’s going on?”

“That was unbelievable.” He still isn’t looking at me, instead he’s completely shut down, chest still heaving from exertion as he grabs the towel next to the stairs, wipes his hands and picks up his phone.

What the hell?

What we shared wasn’t just something-normal.

In fact nothing between has been normal since this started.

And now he’s acting like every other teenage boy on the planet and grabbing his cell phone the minute he gets off.

I’m so hurt I can’t see straight.

Why can’t it always be easy with him?

Why am I always doubting him?

Us?

What Aisha said about my circle of friends pounds into my skull until my temples start to ache. I never know if she’s playing with me or if she actually has a brain cell next to her fake extensions.

Would they even be able to coexist anyways fighting for all that space?

grab a towel and get out of the hot tub, irritated, and a bit pissed that my body feels so good after his kisses, after his touch.

“You okay?” Easton reaches for me.

I jerk away. “Yeah, fine.”

Which in girl speak basically means, you might die tonight, he seems to catch on though and quickly flips his phone over so I can’t see the screen which just makes me more suspicious on top of everything else.

He yawns and stretches his arms over his head, then grabs his own towel while I put the top back on the hot tub.

silence

him, he’s warm just like the hot tub and I feel weak because I need him, because his touch tells me that everythings going to be okay when everything feels so

Maybe it’s me.

I’m vulnerable.

And I blame him.

I love him.

I can’t read him, because he won’t open up to me the way I need and I’m scared that

I slump against him.

lips are on my neck.

off again and tense even more. “Someones trying to get a hold

busy right nowholding on to you.” He chuckles against my neck, his lips on my skin, and I forget for a few minutes how angry I

much as I

know I’ve never felt this way

Do I though?

“I know.” I lie.

heart and steals my soul. Harper, you’re it. You are. Even if you don’t believe it, one day you will, because one day I’ll be able to prove it. You’re my everything and as much as you probably hate me half the time, I’d take that hate any day, because it means I’m yours…and

“That was stupid romantic for a high school

he jokes, kissing

phone goes

he pulls away. “Look, I have to take care of this really quick, trust me

I turn around.

pale as he

His movements jerky.

Something’s off.

“Everything okay?” I ask.

gonna run you home real quick then grab something by the school, apparently

the blue and why wouldn’t he have said something sooner?

me into his arms, his smile easy. “I’m spending the night. I

my parents come barging

built and even when he’s not kissing me I dream of his tongue, of the way my fingers feel against his firm

would be quiet with Easton standing in front

his phone again, what the hell? “It will literally take no time, plus I can

plan.”

him even though something doesn’t feel right, I want him to communicate more but I’m afraid of being

say. “Okay.”