You’re Mine by Penny Brooks

Chapter 113

Harper

Easton: Good morning, beautiful. I smile as I read the text from my boyfriend, hating how sore my throat is. Swallowing hard, I close my eyes, my head spinning. Oh no. I think I might be sick. My phone buzzes again. Easton: Miss you. Easton: Can't wait to see you at school. Me: I don’t know if I'm coming. Easton: What do you mean? Me: I don't feel so good. My phone rings in my hand and I immediately answer it. “What's wrong? '

he asks, sounding concerned. “My throat. '

I swallow again, and it hurts so bad I never want to swallow again. “It’s killing me. I think I'm coming down with something. '

“Maybe you should stay home. '

“We missed school yesterday. I can’t stay home. '

“Listen Brainiac, you'll be fine if you miss another day. It’s not like you're going to fail all your classes. '

He’s teasing me and I know he’s probably right but... I hate missing school. And now I have an extra reason to worry about not being there. Aisha trailing after my boyfriend everywhere he goes. If she knows I’m not at school, she'll be all over him. “I'm going, '

I say firmly as I sit up in bed. Only to immediately lay back down, my head swimming. “Or maybe not, '

I say weakly. “What happened? '

“('m kind of dizzy. '

I close my eyes and exhale loudly. “My body aches. '

“You're sick. Stay home, baby. You need rest. '

His voice is soft and soothing and I know he’s right. There’s a knock on my door and then it opens, my mother peeking her head around it. “You should be up already, Harper. It’s late. '

“I need to go, '

“Talk to

ya babe.

me say that. She doesn’t even know Easton and I are a thing. “I'm not

room, her hands going to

nod, tucking the covers up under my chin. “My whole

her and she approaches the bed, the back of her hand going

have

really think you're doing too much lately. Always running around with your friends, and you're never home, I’m happy you're getting out more and enjoying your senior year, but I'm also worried

have gone to the lake with your brother

she lumps Easton with Ryan, as if he's not involved in my life that much. And in her eyes, that’s the case. “It was fun.

getting enough rest and doing too

a doctor’s appointment for this afternoon and we'll see

“Okay. '

sudden. “You're going

“Fine. '

close my eyes. “And you're staying home this weekend too. You need

Mom continues. “Whatever, '

to her. I know she’s trying to watch out for me, but it’s also annoying how she’s trying to tell me what to do. Not that I want to go anywhere right now. I feel terrible. It’s like my throat is

still standing in my bedroom. “He

you ask him

I'm facing her. “I want him to do something for me

“Of course. '

call your doctor's office and see if we can get

“Thanks Mom. '

sleep when I hear my brother stomp into my room. You could never call Ryan subtle, let me tell you. “What’s

my eyes to find him watching me, concern filling his gaze. “My

of steps back. “Don’t want it.