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

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

in blue shirt with a badge, okay so yeah totally

us, her sneer so apparent I want to

so much as flinch as he wraps an arm around

"Have a great day."

Her eyes narrow.

"Girlfriend?"

"Yes,"

him and

"My name's Harper."

"How..."

throws on her

"Lovely for you..."

like it's

the hell was that

I say out loud.

is tense but manages a

Fillers don't do shit? Hates her job? A woman

me

"What if we skip?"

"Skip what?"

I frown.

"Life?"

He jokes.

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

many epic things about

was like this mansion right on the lake and only the most popular kids had been invited

serious envy when Ryan would

wants me

I ask.

“Over my dead body."

suddenly appears, scaring the shit

against his side, her head laying on his

fast if they're showing that much PDA

just sounded

and

leave you out.”

you in? Should we

Ryan snorts.

the hell are you going to get to write you an

stops talking and

it might be

the words bother him as much as they do me as he

next few hours, then leave? We can

do it.”

need some alone time

down at Sadie

I make a face.

in front of you.” Ryan rolls his

and I wink at her

Sadie jokes.