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 really

something when what looks like

in blue shirt with a badge, okay so yeah totally

us, her sneer so apparent I want

acting weird? He doesn't so

"Have a great day."

Her eyes narrow.

"Girlfriend?"

"Yes,"

answer for him and stick out

"My name's Harper."

"How..."

on her black

"Lovely for you..."

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

the hell was

I say out loud.

is tense but

knows...she’s old? Botox isn't working? Fillers don't do shit? Hates her job? A woman in a man's

me

"What if we skip?"

"Skip what?"

I frown.

"Life?"

He jokes.

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

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

envy when Ryan would go

he wants me to go? “Just

I ask.

“Over my dead body."

suddenly appears, scaring the shit out of

against his side, her

they are moving weirdly fast if they're

I just sounded like my

and look

never leave you out.” Easton bumps

Should we just

Ryan snorts.

get to

stops talking

mean, it might be hard now

bother him as much as they do me as he

few hours, then leave? We can

it.” Ryan

some alone time

looks down at

I make a face.

front of you.” Ryan rolls his

and I wink at her and suddenly she's pregnant?”

Sadie jokes.