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.

tense silence exists between

grabs me by the hand and pulls me back against him, he’s warm just like the hot tub and I feel weak because I need him, because his touch

Maybe it’s me.

I’m vulnerable.

And I blame him.

I love him.

because he won’t open up to me the way I need and I’m scared that if I say something I’m going to push

I slump against him.

Easton’s lips are on my neck. “What’s

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

He chuckles against my neck, his lips on my skin, and I forget for a few minutes how angry I

relax as much as I

tighter. “You know I’ve never felt this way

Do I though?

“I know.” I lie.

your body, Harp. It’s everything. It’s the way you fight me when you want to kiss me. It’s your bravery. It’s every single smile that kills my 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

was stupid romantic for a high school

jokes,

phone goes off

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

I turn around.

is pale as

His movements jerky.

Something’s off.

“Everything okay?” I ask.

apparently in all my anger and excitement I left

don’t say anything else but I want to because it’s so out of the blue and why wouldn’t he have said something sooner? Doubt starts creeping in again when

easy. “I’m spending the night. I mean,

parents come barging

and even

him, but also, I mean, what girl would be quiet with Easton standing in front of them? Eating them

“It will literally take no time, plus I can

plan.”

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

say. “Okay.”