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

babe. Love

back, ending the call. Mom might flip out if she heard me say that. She doesn’t even know Easton and I are a thing. “I'm not feeling well.

enters my room, her hands going to her hips. “You think

covers up under my

approaches the bed, the back of her hand going to

I have a fever.

doing too much lately. Always running around with your friends, and you're never home, I’m happy

shouldn't have gone to the lake

if he's not involved in my life that much. And in her eyes, that’s the case. “It was fun. I don’t regret going. I just regret the crappy weather. That's probably what got me sick in

not getting enough rest

a doctor’s appointment for this afternoon and

“Okay. '

lids feel all of a sudden. “You're going to take it easy

“Fine. '

and close my eyes. “And

Mom continues. “Whatever, '

to tell me what to do. Not that I want to go anywhere right now.

standing in my bedroom. “He seems fine. Didn’t complain about

him to come see

back over so I'm facing her. “I want him to

“Of course. '

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

“Thanks Mom. '

my brother stomp into my room. You could never call Ryan subtle,

filling his gaze. “My throat is

a couple of steps