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.

shit is

when what looks like a police

and a tightly tucked in blue shirt with a badge, okay so yeah totally a police officer—attached

her sneer so apparent

doesn't so much as flinch as he wraps

"Have a great day."

Her eyes narrow.

"Girlfriend?"

"Yes,"

for him and stick out my

"My name's Harper."

"How..."

on her

"Lovely for you..."

it's the time of the

the hell

I say out loud.

but manages

shit? Hates her job? A woman in a man's world?

spins me

"What if we skip?"

"Skip what?"

I frown.

"Life?"

He jokes.

skip the rest of school, run back to our houses, pack, and go to my

so many epic things

lake and only the most popular kids had been

when Ryan would go because duh,

wants me to go? “Just

I ask.

“Over my dead body."

suddenly appears, scaring the shit

is leaning against his side, her head laying on

if they're showing that much

sounded like

and look toward

out.”

in? Should we

Ryan snorts.

the hell are you going to get to write you an

talking and

mean, it might be hard now

but I know the words bother him as much as they

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

it.” Ryan

some alone

down at Sadie and

I make a face.

while I'm in front of you.” Ryan rolls his

and I wink at her

Sadie jokes.