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

and looks around like he’s paranoid about something when what looks like a police officer makes her way down the

blue shirt with a badge, okay so yeah totally

her sneer so apparent I want to

know? Is that 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 stick out

"My name's Harper."

"How..."

throws on her

"Lovely for you..."

us like it's the time of the month and the

hell

I say out loud.

but manages

her job? A woman in a man's world? Take your pick, I

spins me

"What if we skip?"

"Skip what?"

I frown.

"Life?"

He jokes.

we skip the rest of school, run back to our houses, pack,

epic

on the lake and only the most popular kids had been invited

serious envy when Ryan would go because

now he wants me

I ask.

“Over my dead body."

appears, scaring the

against his side,

they are moving weirdly fast if they're

sounded like my

cringe and look toward

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

Should we

Ryan snorts.

get to write you an

stops talking and looks

might be hard now

as much as they do me

hours, then leave?

do it.” Ryan

need some alone time

down at Sadie

I make a face.

front of you.” Ryan

and I wink

Sadie jokes.