You’re Mine by Penny Brooks

Harper

"But I didn't fuck her, baby,"

Easton says, his hand moving to my face.

“I didn’t touch her at all.” I want to push him away, but the sound of his voice is what I cling to.

The softness, the rawness, the truth I see in his eyes.

"I couldn't do it,"

he continues.

"I got to her house, I told her how much you mean to me, and that I'm willing to take whatever punishment comes my way but to leave you out of it.” The ache in my stomach turns to something else.

Relief? Tingles? There's so much emotion running through me, I'm not sure I can differentiate my feelings anymore.

But I know I need to hear something again, I need to hear it over and over until it sinks in.

"You really didn't have sex with her?"

He shakes his head.

"No, baby."

His other hand joins my face.

“I didn’t kiss her, I didn’t touch her—nothing happened between us."

His stare deepens.

"I care about you, Harper, more than you think I do.” I fall against his chest and his arms wrap around me, his scent, his warmth, his breath—all giving me so much comfort.

This morning, I didn't know if I'd be here again with him and now I can't imagine being anywhere else.

My eyes close and after a few seconds I ask, “How are we going to get out of this mess?"

“It's my mess, not yours."

I squeeze him tighter.

"You're not in this alone."

"I am because there's no way I'm dragging you into it.

You got enough shit from WHGOSSIP, you don’t need anymore."

I bury my face in his neck.

"What's going to happen?"

"Mrs.

told me she has

going to drag me in and ask all the questions, but I'm not going to rat

last thing I need is for anyone to press charges and for this to go to court.” "Does that mean things between

this is over, things will be cordial, but I assure you I won't be asking for

detention for being this late to class.” I tilt my neck back to look at his face, more relief flooding

live with

back and forth, his hands holding my face

have skeletons

met

hearing that he

Scott.

married and all the guys think she's so hot—things I'm trying not to focus on, those layers will only make me feel

have a past and his is just much

I'm pretty sure you're

face this morning

wants to

to talk to Blake, too.” My eyes

"Blake?"

around, he's there, trying to get with

it, it needs to end or we're just going to

does seem to

hand lowers to my

blame the

a gesture so sweet it makes my chest

games with him, I'm putting a stop to it, he needs to set

conversation going to

He smiles.

"I'll be good.

walking up here to the roof, but there are still things I'm

"Do you think Mrs.

I know that sounds so trivial considering what you're about to face, but I want

I sigh.

I feel like there's a new one every

on me right

hear something, I'll give you a heads

He comes even closer.

before I fucking

crash against mine and my body

all-consuming presence—it surrounds me and pulls me in

"Harper,"

he moans.

enough of, a security I've needed since the post

out of my mouth, and

want to ever leave, we have