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

something when what looks like a

tightly tucked in blue shirt with a badge, okay

sneer so apparent I want to

He doesn't so much

"Have a great day."

Her eyes narrow.

"Girlfriend?"

"Yes,"

and

"My name's Harper."

"How..."

throws on her

"Lovely for you..."

crisis stomps past us like it's the time of the month and the world

the hell was that

I say out loud.

tense but manages a

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

me

"What if we skip?"

"Skip what?"

I frown.

"Life?"

He jokes.

rest of school, run back to our houses, pack, and go to my parents’ cabin for

epic things

on the lake and only the most popular kids had

when Ryan would go

he wants me

I ask.

“Over my dead body."

suddenly appears, scaring the shit out

side, her head

moving weirdly fast if they're showing that much PDA during

just sounded

and look toward

out.” Easton bumps fists with

in? Should

Ryan snorts.

going to get to write you an

stops talking and

might be hard

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

next few hours, then leave? We

it.”

some

down at Sadie and

I make a face.

I'm in front of you.” Ryan

I wink at her and suddenly she's pregnant?”

Sadie jokes.