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 is getting really

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

with a badge, okay so yeah totally a police

us, her sneer so apparent I want

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

"Have a great day."

Her eyes narrow.

"Girlfriend?"

"Yes,"

for him and stick

"My name's Harper."

"How..."

on her

"Lovely for you..."

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

the hell was that

I say out loud.

but

shit? Hates her job? A woman in a man's world? Take your

spins me toward

"What if we skip?"

"Skip what?"

I frown.

"Life?"

He jokes.

what if we skip the rest of school, run back to our

many epic things

mansion right on the lake

serious envy when Ryan would go

me to go? “Just

I ask.

“Over my dead body."

suddenly appears, scaring the shit out

is leaning against his side, her head

they're showing that much PDA

I just sounded like my

cringe and

you out.” Easton bumps fists

you in? Should we

Ryan snorts.

hell are you going to get to write you an excuse since

stops talking and looks

it might be hard now

doesn't stiffen, but I know the words bother him as much as they do me as he looks down the hall and

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

it.” Ryan

some

down at Sadie and

I make a face.

while I'm in front of

gave me earplugs, FUCKING EARPLUGS and I

Sadie jokes.