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 is getting really

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

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

stops by us, her sneer

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

"Have a great day."

Her eyes narrow.

"Girlfriend?"

"Yes,"

for him and

"My name's Harper."

"How..."

on

"Lovely for you..."

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

hell was that

I say out loud.

but

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

me

"What if we skip?"

"Skip what?"

I frown.

"Life?"

He jokes.

not life, but what if we skip the rest of school, run back to our houses, pack, and go to my parents’

many epic things about his

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

envy when Ryan would go because duh,

he wants me to

I ask.

“Over my dead body."

scaring the

against his side, her head

weirdly fast if they're showing that much

just sounded like my

cringe and look

leave you out.” Easton bumps fists

in? Should we

Ryan snorts.

are you going to get to write you an excuse since

talking and looks

might be

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

for the next few hours, then leave? We can make it there

it.” Ryan

need some alone time

at

I make a face.

of you.” Ryan

earplugs, FUCKING EARPLUGS and I wink at her

Sadie jokes.