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

away briefly and looks around like he’s paranoid about something when what

shirt with a badge,

sneer so

know? Is that why he’s acting weird? He doesn't so much as flinch as he wraps

"Have a great day."

Her eyes narrow.

"Girlfriend?"

"Yes,"

him and stick out

"My name's Harper."

"How..."

on

"Lovely for you..."

hand as mid-life crisis stomps past us like it's

the hell was that

I say out loud.

but manages a

don't do shit? Hates her job? A woman

spins me

"What if we skip?"

"Skip what?"

I frown.

"Life?"

He jokes.

what if we skip the rest of school, run back to our

heard so many epic things about his

the lake and only the most popular kids had

have serious envy when Ryan would go because

he wants me to go?

I ask.

“Over my dead body."

scaring the shit out

his side, her head laying

are moving weirdly fast if they're showing that much PDA during school

sounded like my

cringe and look

you out.” Easton

Should we just

Ryan snorts.

hell are you going to get to write you an excuse

stops talking and looks

mean, it might

doesn't stiffen, but I know the words bother him as much as they do me as he looks

for the next few hours, then leave?

it.”

need some alone

down at

I make a face.

in front of you.” Ryan rolls his

I wink

Sadie jokes.