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 is getting

briefly and looks around like he’s paranoid about something when what looks like

a tightly tucked in blue shirt with a badge, okay so yeah

her sneer so

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

"Have a great day."

Her eyes narrow.

"Girlfriend?"

"Yes,"

him and stick out my

"My name's Harper."

"How..."

on her

"Lovely for you..."

stomps past us like it's

hell was that

I say out loud.

tense but

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

me toward

"What if we skip?"

"Skip what?"

I frown.

"Life?"

He jokes.

skip the rest of school, run back to our houses, pack, and go to my

many epic things about his

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

when

now he wants me to go?

I ask.

“Over my dead body."

suddenly appears, scaring the shit out of

is leaning against his side, her head laying on

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

just sounded

cringe and look toward

leave you out.”

in? Should we just

Ryan snorts.

are you going to get to write you an excuse

talking

it might be

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

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

do it.” Ryan

some alone

looks down at Sadie

I make a face.

while I'm in front of you.” Ryan rolls his

me earplugs, FUCKING EARPLUGS and I wink at

Sadie jokes.