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

looks around like he’s paranoid about something when what looks like a

in blue shirt with a badge, okay so yeah totally a police

by us, her sneer so apparent I want to

he’s acting weird? He doesn't so much as flinch as

"Have a great day."

Her eyes narrow.

"Girlfriend?"

"Yes,"

him and stick

"My name's Harper."

"How..."

throws on her

"Lovely for you..."

flinch and drop my hand as mid-life crisis stomps past us like it's the time of the month and the world ran out of Advil

hell was that

I say out loud.

but manages

isn't working? Fillers don't do shit? Hates her job? A woman in a man's world? Take your pick, I mean

spins me

"What if we skip?"

"Skip what?"

I frown.

"Life?"

He jokes.

but what if we skip the rest of school, run back to

heard so many epic

to school gossip, his cabin was like this mansion right on the lake and only the most

serious envy when Ryan would go

now he wants me to

I ask.

“Over my dead body."

appears, scaring the shit

is leaning against his side, her head

weirdly fast if they're showing that

just sounded like my

cringe and look

know I'd never leave you out.”

Should we just

Ryan snorts.

going to get to write you an

stops talking and looks

mean, it might

doesn't stiffen, but I know the words bother him as much

few hours, then leave? We can make it

do it.” Ryan

some

down at Sadie

I make a face.

front of

EARPLUGS and I wink at her and

Sadie jokes.