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?"

that have been made in regards to

involved with Mrs.

Scott."

actually squirms in his

be easy to talk about, and of course we'll leave you alone with the detectives

my heartbeat thundering in

and I can tell they're not liking what

Well tough shit.

want to talk to them and turn this into a big deal by

going to deny anything even

Jenkins frowns.

do you

mean what

Nothing happened between Mrs.

and I.” I sit up

out by having me work on a

could look at college websites together, but that's it.” Jenkins openly sneers, like he just sniffed someone's stinky

"You were at Mrs.

Scott's house?"

“Yeah.

one night, upstairs asleep

was all on the up and

to be at a counselor's house in the evening, but that’s about

Scott and I."

"Really."

flat tone tells me she thinks I'm full of

only smart one in

"Yeah."

meet her gaze,

"Really."

"Well."

resting his clutched hands on top

"I see.

That changes everything."

glancing around the room so I can

inappropriately touched or whatever

I wanted it.

happen between Leigh

the time, but I

I'm over it.

Done.

"Are you sure, son?"

asks, his voice

concerned, father—figure of

"I'm positive,"

his

like the prodigal

back in his chair, his smile of satisfaction indicating

we've solved your case,” Jenkins crows to the detectives, who