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

everything will go back to

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 at Harper to witness her with her head tilted back and her chest thrust forward as she keeps chugging the soda like she's a frat boy

“Harp.

Slow down."

the back of her hand across her mouth and sets the can

"I'm sorry.

stressed

a handful of popcorn

My girl is feeling...a certain

to help her

least for

phone.” I hold my hand out toward

She eyes it warily.

"Why?"

going to disconnect for a

"Hand it over."

palm and I lean over

laptop

you want to watch?

"A rom com, please,"

says primly, reaching

Whatever my girl wants.

we're watching a boring ass movie about true

grab it, setting the bowl

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

How close she is.

I can smell her intoxicating

I want

the top of her pillow and thread my fingers through her hair, running them through her long locks as she lies there, her

sigh leaves her and she slowly closes her eyes,

Good.

attention to

closer, I press my lips

her name

me, her knee knocking into my laptop, slamming it

set it on the floor, leaning it against the bed before I return

talk as we reach

and I'm too frustrated and we can't change anything about our circumstances right

that Ryan and I were cool with Blake, which I

trust

Something's up with him.