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

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

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

stops by us, her sneer so apparent

acting weird? He doesn't so much as flinch as he wraps an arm

"Have a great day."

Her eyes narrow.

"Girlfriend?"

"Yes,"

him and stick out my

"My name's Harper."

"How..."

on her black

"Lovely for you..."

mid-life crisis stomps past us like it's the time

the hell

I say out loud.

tense but manages

old? Botox isn't working? 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.

we skip the rest of school, run back to our houses, pack, and go to my parents’ cabin

so many epic things about his

right on the lake and only the most

when Ryan would go

he wants me to go? “Just

I ask.

“Over my dead body."

scaring the shit

is leaning against his side, her head laying

they are moving weirdly fast if they're showing that much

just sounded

and look toward

never leave you out.” Easton bumps fists

you in? Should we

Ryan snorts.

to get to write you an excuse since

stops talking and looks

it might be

bother him as much as they do me as he looks down the hall and

hours, then leave? We

do it.” Ryan

some

down at

I make a face.

I'm in front of

and I wink at her and suddenly

Sadie jokes.