You’re Mine by Penny Brooks

Easton

The dinner with my parents started out like a total shit show, but at least ended on a positive note.

Once we moved past the local news reporting on me and Leigh—like what the actual fuck—-Mom called us into the dining room where she had a huge spread of food laid out in dishes like she made it.

I know for a fact she’s too damn busy to cook and ordered everything from her favorite Italian restaurant, but I never said a word.

Neither did Mom.

In fact, she basked in Harper's lavish praise about the delicious meal and pretended to be modest.

Like her "making"

dinner was no big deal.

Whatever.

If Mom wants Harper to think she’s an expert on Italian cuisine, I don't care.

We hung out for a while after dinner at the table, making small talk, my parents asking Harper an endless string of questions.

She answered every one of them like a champ, never letting her poise slip in front of them.

Damn, she made me proud.

I walked her out to Ryan's car and I climb inside with her, kissing her for a solid thirty minutes before she finally, reluctantly left.

I went to bed with a smile on my face.

Still was wearing that smile when I walked into school this morning.

And then during first period, I got called into the principal's office.

The moment I walked inside, the serious expressions on everyone's face—and there are at least five people crammed into the office, two of them I don't recognize—sends a spiral of dread through me.

"Easton.

Sit down."

Principal Jenkins indicates the empty chair in front of his desk.

I settle in, glancing around.

"What's this about?"

"These detectives here would like to speak to you."

Jenkins waves his hand toward the man and woman I don't recognize.

"About the—incident between you and Mrs.

Scott."

I keep my face completely neutral.

"What incident?"

allegations that have been made in

involved with Mrs.

Scott."

Jenkins actually squirms in his

we'll leave you alone

my

glance in the detectives' direction and I can tell they're not

Well tough shit.

to them and turn this

going to deny anything even

Jenkins frowns.

you

mean what

Nothing happened between Mrs.

up straighter,

out by having me work on a couple of

one night so we could look at college websites together, but that's it.” Jenkins openly sneers, like he just sniffed

"You were at Mrs.

Scott's house?"

“Yeah.

that one night, upstairs asleep in their bed while I

all on the

at a counselor's house in the evening, but

Scott and I."

"Really."

tone tells me

smart one in

"Yeah."

meet her gaze, never backing

"Really."

"Well."

clears his throat, resting his clutched hands on top

"I see.

That changes everything."

I stress, glancing around the room so I can look everyone

bulldoze me into confessing Iwas inappropriately touched or whatever the fuck

I wanted it.

it happen

a minor at the time, but I don't need any more

I'm over it.

Done.

"Are you sure, son?"

his

he's the overly concerned, father—figure of

"I'm positive,"

say, matching his tone

sound like the

smile of satisfaction indicating me pleading my case actually

your case,” Jenkins crows to the detectives, who look like they want to murder