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.

all this shit

around like he’s paranoid about something when what looks like a police officer makes her

black pants, and a tightly tucked in blue shirt with a badge,

her sneer so

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

"Have a great day."

Her eyes narrow.

"Girlfriend?"

"Yes,"

for him and stick

"My name's Harper."

"How..."

throws on

"Lovely for you..."

stomps past us like it's the time

the hell

I say out loud.

is tense but manages

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

spins me

"What if we skip?"

"Skip what?"

I frown.

"Life?"

He jokes.

of school, run back

epic things about

lake and only the most popular

to have serious envy when Ryan would go because

now he wants me to go? “Just

I ask.

“Over my dead body."

the shit

side, her head laying

weirdly fast if they're showing that much

sounded

cringe and

you out.” Easton bumps fists with

you in? Should

Ryan snorts.

hell are you going to get to

stops talking and looks

mean, it might be

much as they do me as he looks

suffer for the next few hours, then leave? We can make it there by

do it.” Ryan

need some alone time

looks down at

I make a face.

front of you.” Ryan rolls his

EARPLUGS and I wink

Sadie jokes.