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

about something when what looks like a police officer makes her way

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

stops by us, her sneer so apparent I want

so much as flinch as

"Have a great day."

Her eyes narrow.

"Girlfriend?"

"Yes,"

him and

"My name's Harper."

"How..."

throws on

"Lovely for you..."

like it's the time

hell was

I say out loud.

is tense but manages

don't do shit? Hates her job? A woman in a man's world? Take your

spins me toward

"What if we skip?"

"Skip what?"

I frown.

"Life?"

He jokes.

rest of school, run back to our houses,

epic things

this mansion right on the lake

have serious envy when

now he wants me to

I ask.

“Over my dead body."

the shit out of

side, her

they are moving weirdly fast if they're

sounded like my

cringe and look

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

Should we just

Ryan snorts.

hell are you going to get to write you an

talking and looks

mean, it might be hard now

but I know the words bother him as much as they do me as he

few hours,

it.” Ryan

some alone

down at Sadie

I make a face.

I'm in front of you.” Ryan rolls his

gave me earplugs, FUCKING EARPLUGS and I wink at her and suddenly she's pregnant?”

Sadie jokes.