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

when what looks like a

black pants, and a tightly tucked in blue shirt with a badge, okay

her sneer so

so much as flinch as he wraps an

"Have a great day."

Her eyes narrow.

"Girlfriend?"

"Yes,"

answer for him and

"My name's Harper."

"How..."

throws on her

"Lovely for you..."

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

hell was

I say out loud.

but manages a

working? Fillers don't do shit? Hates her job? A woman in a man's world? Take your pick,

spins me

"What if we skip?"

"Skip what?"

I frown.

"Life?"

He jokes.

life, but what if we skip the rest of school, run back to our houses, pack, and go to my parents’

so many epic things about his

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

envy when Ryan would go

he wants me to

I ask.

“Over my dead body."

appears, scaring the shit out

is leaning against his side, her head laying on his

they're showing that much PDA during

sounded like my

cringe and look toward

I'd never leave you out.” Easton bumps fists with my

Should

Ryan snorts.

you going to get to write you

stops talking and looks

mean, it might be

but I know the words bother him as much as they

the next few hours, then

do it.” Ryan

need some alone time

down at

I make a face.

while I'm in front of

gave me earplugs, FUCKING EARPLUGS and I

Sadie jokes.