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 getting really

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

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

by us, her sneer so

so much as flinch as he wraps an arm around me

"Have a great day."

Her eyes narrow.

"Girlfriend?"

"Yes,"

answer for him and stick out

"My name's Harper."

"How..."

on her black

"Lovely for you..."

like it's the

hell was that

I say out loud.

tense but manages a

isn't working? Fillers don't do shit? Hates her job? A woman in a man's world?

spins me

"What if we skip?"

"Skip what?"

I frown.

"Life?"

He jokes.

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

so many epic things

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

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

now he wants me to go? “Just

I ask.

“Over my dead body."

suddenly appears, scaring the shit

his side,

they are moving weirdly fast if they're showing that

sounded

cringe and look

never leave you out.” Easton bumps fists with

Should we

Ryan snorts.

you going to get to write you an

stops talking and

might be

much as they

maybe we suffer for the next few hours, then

it.” Ryan

some alone time

looks down at Sadie

I make a face.

while I'm in front of you.” Ryan

me earplugs, FUCKING EARPLUGS and I wink at her and suddenly she's

Sadie jokes.