You’re Mine by Penny Brooks

Easton

What do you do when your girlfriend is full of doubt and in a bad mood for the entire day? You take her back to your place, make popcorn and grab a couple of sodas, and then drag her into your bed along with your laptop with the promise of, “watching a movie".

That's code for getting naked with each other.

Harper didn't get the memo though.

When I enter my bedroom with the promised drinks and snacks, I find her sitting on top of my bed with every stitch of clothing still on, her back against the headboard as she stares so hard at her phone, her forehead is wrinkled.

Frustration fills me but I bat it away and paste on a smile.

"Everything okay?” "What?"

She glances up at me, smiling when she sees what I'm carrying.

“Oh my God, I'm starving."

I settle in beside her on the bed, disappointed she's not naked under the covers but I guess I can't be too upset, considering I didn't tell her what I wanted in the first place.

"Here."

I hand her the can of Coke and she takes it from me, cracking it open and immediately guzzling from it.

"I've been on an anti—caffeine kick lately.

Worst possible time to try to give it up,"

she says.

I set the bowl in between us on the bed and we both stick our hands in the popcorn at the same time, our fingers brushing.

She snatches her hand away, brushing her fingers against her lips as she studies me.

"I want to help you forget all of your troubles,” I murmur, leaning over to deliver a kiss to her salty lips.

She smiles, but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes.

"I appreciate you wanting to distract me with snacks and a movie, but I don’t know if it's going to work...” I pull away from her, banging the back of my head against the headboard, closing my eyes briefly as I blow out an exasperated breath.

“Harper, I already reassured you that nothing is going to happen.

I wish you could trust me.

Leigh is gone.

They'll probably fire her.

will just..go

go

do trust you, but are we really going to get that lucky, Easton? Or is that bitch going to be back at school and trying to bribe you again with sex?” I glance over

“Harp.

Slow down."

of her hand across her mouth and sets the can on

"I'm sorry.

just really stressed out

of popcorn and gobbles it

is feeling...a certain

I need to help her

least for

I hold my hand out toward

She eyes it warily.

"Why?"

disconnect for a while,” I

"Hand it over."

slaps her phone in my palm and I lean over

laptop and crack it

do you

"A rom com, please,"

says primly, reaching

Whatever my girl wants.

and we're watching a boring

gone so I grab it,

on the movie playing on my laptop screen, but I'm achingly aware

How close she is.

I can smell her intoxicating

badly I want

pillow and thread my fingers through her hair, running them through her long locks as she lies there, her hazy gaze still

sigh leaves her and she slowly closes her eyes, forgetting all

Good.

wasn't paying attention to it

press my lips to

name

toward me, her knee knocking

leaning it against

talk as we reach for each

and I'm too frustrated and we

were cool with Blake, which I know gave her a sense

in, I don't trust Blake one hundred

Something's up with him.