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

and decide to just go inside the house when he 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

Maybe it’s me.

I’m vulnerable.

And I blame him.

I love him.

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

I slump against him.

are on my neck. “What’s going

again and

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

as much as I

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

Do I though?

“I know.” I lie.

“It’s not just 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 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 you’re

cheek. “That was stupid romantic for

practiced,” he jokes, kissing

phone goes

away. “Look, I have to take care of this really quick, trust me when I say it’s not

I turn around.

face is pale as he

His movements jerky.

Something’s off.

“Everything okay?” I ask.

you home real quick then grab something by the school, apparently in all

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 it comes

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

parents

dark hair, and crystal blue eyes. He’s lean but built and even when he’s not kissing me I dream of his tongue, of the way my fingers feel against

would be quiet with Easton standing in

It’s true!” He laughs and looks at his phone again, what the hell? “It will literally take no time, plus I can drop you off first so your parents don’t

plan.”

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

say. “Okay.”