You’re Mine by Penny Brooks

Harper

Easton is pale.

Normally his skin is a healthy tan, his good looks are so ridiculously hot that I want to strangle him then kiss him right afterward.

I'm next to my locker when he walks up, hands shoved into his jeans, posture stiff.

"Sup?"

I snort out a laugh.

"Did you just bro talk me?"

“Huh?"

He scratches his head, completely distracted.

I mimic his movements, then give him a slight shove.

"Yeah okay, bruh, what you wanna do later, dude, wanna hit the pavement, go for a smoke, shoot some hoops and—"

"-Are you high?"

He leans in, and the smell of his cologne has me dizzy with want.

"And why wouldn't you share?"

Flirtatious Easton is back.

The one I'm obsessed with.

The one I need more than anything, despite how frustrated I get with him on a daily basis.

He's mine.

All mine.

I just wish all this bullshit would go away so we could have more time to figure out what we are, how we work, and what this means before graduation.

Ugh.

"Not high."

I wrap my arms around his waist.

"You just seem distant..."

We have at least half the day left before we can go home-—before I can go home with him, even if that means I'm just going to be in the backseat of his super sexy Jeep.

"Yeah okay boomer,"

he jokes.

"I'm fine, I promise."

Our foreheads touch and I forget all about the worries I have as people whistle and pass us as they walk down the hallway.

"I just had a moment.

this shit is getting really

he’s paranoid about something when what looks

and a tightly tucked in blue shirt with

sneer so apparent

he’s acting weird? He doesn't so much as flinch as he wraps

"Have a great day."

Her eyes narrow.

"Girlfriend?"

"Yes,"

and stick out my

"My name's Harper."

"How..."

throws on her black

"Lovely for you..."

it's the time of the month and the

hell

I say out loud.

is tense but

working? Fillers don't do shit? Hates her job? A woman in a man's world? Take

spins me toward

"What if we skip?"

"Skip what?"

I frown.

"Life?"

He jokes.

not life, but what if we skip the rest of school, run back to our houses, pack, and go

heard so many epic things

to school gossip, his cabin was like this mansion right on the lake and only the most

when Ryan

he wants me to go?

I ask.

“Over my dead body."

suddenly appears, scaring the

his side, her head laying

fast if they're showing that

I just sounded

and

know I'd never leave you out.” Easton bumps fists

in? Should we just

Ryan snorts.

are you going to get to write you

talking

mean, it might

I know the words bother him as much as they do

hours, then leave? We

do it.” Ryan

need some alone time

down at Sadie and

I make a face.

in front of you.” Ryan

and I wink at her and suddenly she's pregnant?”

Sadie jokes.