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

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

a tightly tucked in blue shirt with a badge, okay

us, her sneer so apparent I want to

acting weird? He doesn't so much

"Have a great day."

Her eyes narrow.

"Girlfriend?"

"Yes,"

answer for him and stick

"My name's Harper."

"How..."

on her

"Lovely for you..."

like it's the time of

hell was that

I say out loud.

tense but manages a

do shit? Hates her job? A woman

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 parents’ cabin for

so many epic things about his

to school gossip, his cabin was like this mansion right on the lake and only the most popular kids had been invited over the

to have serious envy when Ryan would go because

me to go?

I ask.

“Over my dead body."

appears, scaring the

is leaning against his side, her

they are moving weirdly fast if they're showing that much

I just sounded like my

cringe and look

out.” Easton bumps fists with my

you in? Should we just

Ryan snorts.

to get to write you an excuse since

stops talking and

it might be hard now

bother him as much

we suffer for the next few hours, then leave? We

it.” Ryan

need some

at

I make a face.

I'm in front of you.”

EARPLUGS and I wink at her

Sadie jokes.