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

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

with a badge, okay so yeah totally a police officer—attached

by us, her sneer so apparent I

doesn't so much as flinch as he wraps an arm around

"Have a great day."

Her eyes narrow.

"Girlfriend?"

"Yes,"

and stick out

"My name's Harper."

"How..."

on her

"Lovely for you..."

crisis stomps past us like it's the time of the month and

the hell

I say out loud.

but manages

don't do shit? Hates her job? A woman in a man's world? Take your pick, I mean

me toward

"What if we skip?"

"Skip what?"

I frown.

"Life?"

He jokes.

school, run back to our houses, pack, and go to my parents’ cabin

epic things about his

the lake and only the most popular kids had been invited over the

have serious envy when Ryan would

he wants me

I ask.

“Over my dead body."

appears, scaring the

against his side, her

weirdly fast if they're showing that

I just sounded like my

cringe and look

leave you out.” Easton bumps fists with my

Should we

Ryan snorts.

to get to write you

stops talking and

it might

but I know the words bother him as much as they do

next few hours, then leave? We can

it.”

need some alone

down at Sadie and

I make a face.

of

gave me earplugs, FUCKING EARPLUGS and I wink at her and

Sadie jokes.