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

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

with a badge, okay so yeah totally

sneer

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,"

answer for him and stick

"My name's Harper."

"How..."

throws on her black

"Lovely for you..."

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

the hell was that

I say out loud.

is tense but

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.

back to our houses, pack, and

epic things about

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

to have serious envy when Ryan would go because duh, best

me

I ask.

“Over my dead body."

scaring the shit

is leaning against his side,

are moving weirdly fast if they're showing that much

just sounded like

and

I'd never leave you out.” Easton

Should we just

Ryan snorts.

going to get to write you an excuse

talking and looks

it might be hard

bother him as much as they do me

the next few hours, then leave? We

it.” Ryan

some alone time

looks down at Sadie

I make a face.

front of

me earplugs, FUCKING EARPLUGS and I wink

Sadie jokes.