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

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

a tightly tucked in blue shirt with a badge, okay so yeah totally a police officer—attached to

her sneer so apparent I want

weird? He doesn't so much as flinch as he wraps an arm

"Have a great day."

Her eyes narrow.

"Girlfriend?"

"Yes,"

for him and stick

"My name's Harper."

"How..."

throws on her

"Lovely for you..."

stomps past us like it's the time of the

hell was that

I say out loud.

is tense but

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

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’ cabin for the

so many epic

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

envy when Ryan would go

me to go? “Just

I ask.

“Over my dead body."

scaring the shit

his side, her

they're showing that much PDA during school

I just sounded like my

and look

out.” Easton

Should we

Ryan snorts.

hell are you going to get

talking

might be

as much as they

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

do it.” Ryan

some alone time

down at Sadie and

I make a face.

of you.” Ryan rolls

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

Sadie jokes.