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.

all this shit

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

blue shirt with a

sneer so apparent

weird? He doesn't so much as flinch as he

"Have a great day."

Her eyes narrow.

"Girlfriend?"

"Yes,"

answer for him and stick

"My name's Harper."

"How..."

throws on her black

"Lovely for you..."

like it's the time of the month and the world ran

hell was that

I say out loud.

but manages a

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

me toward

"What if we skip?"

"Skip what?"

I frown.

"Life?"

He jokes.

run back to our houses, pack, and go to my parents’ cabin

so many epic things

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

used to have serious envy when Ryan would go because duh,

now he wants me to

I ask.

“Over my dead body."

appears, scaring the shit

is leaning against his side, her head laying

if they're showing that much PDA

sounded

cringe and

leave you out.” Easton bumps fists with my

Should we just take

Ryan snorts.

get

talking and

it might be hard now

words bother him as much as they do me as he looks

hours, then

it.” Ryan

some alone time

at

I make a face.

of you.” Ryan rolls his

earplugs, FUCKING EARPLUGS and I

Sadie jokes.