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

about something when what looks like a police officer

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

us, her sneer so apparent I want

know? Is that why he’s acting weird? He doesn't so much as flinch as he wraps

"Have a great day."

Her eyes narrow.

"Girlfriend?"

"Yes,"

him and stick

"My name's Harper."

"How..."

throws on

"Lovely for you..."

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

hell was

I say out loud.

is tense but manages

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

spins me toward

"What if we skip?"

"Skip what?"

I frown.

"Life?"

He jokes.

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

so many epic

mansion right on the lake and only the most popular kids had been invited over

envy when

he wants me to go? “Just

I ask.

“Over my dead body."

appears, scaring the shit out of

side, her head laying on his

they're showing

just sounded

and look

I'd never leave you out.” Easton bumps

Should

Ryan snorts.

to get to write you an excuse since

stops talking

mean, it might be hard

stiffen, but I know the words bother him as much as

the next few hours, then leave?

do it.”

some

looks down at Sadie and

I make a face.

in front of you.” Ryan rolls

FUCKING EARPLUGS and I wink at her and suddenly

Sadie jokes.