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 is

and looks around like he’s paranoid about something when

pants, and a tightly tucked in blue shirt with a badge, okay so yeah totally a

stops by us, her sneer so

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

"Have a great day."

Her eyes narrow.

"Girlfriend?"

"Yes,"

him and

"My name's Harper."

"How..."

on her

"Lovely for you..."

drop my hand as mid-life crisis stomps past us like it's the time of the month and the world ran out of Advil and

hell was

I say out loud.

tense but

knows...she’s old? Botox isn't working? Fillers don't do shit? Hates her job? A woman in a man's world?

spins me toward

"What if we skip?"

"Skip what?"

I frown.

"Life?"

He jokes.

school, run back to our houses, pack, and go to my

epic things about his

mansion right on the lake and only the most popular kids had

serious envy when Ryan would go

me to

I ask.

“Over my dead body."

the

his side, her head laying

if they're

just sounded like

cringe and

I'd never leave you out.” Easton bumps fists

you in? Should we just take

Ryan snorts.

to get to write you an excuse since

talking

might be hard now

I know the words bother him as much

we suffer for the next few hours,

do it.” Ryan

some

down at Sadie and

I make a face.

in front of you.” Ryan rolls

FUCKING EARPLUGS and I wink at her and suddenly she's pregnant?”

Sadie jokes.