You’re Mine by Penny Brooks

Chapter 120

Easton

I'm not surprised to find Harper at my locker when I get to school the next morning. I expected her to be standing there, looking pouty, just like she is, especially after not emailing her back last night. Truth is, I was fucking pissed. And I still am. “I'm not in the mood, '

I tell her. I twist the padlock to enter the combination and pull the door to my locker open once it’s unlocked. “But why? What happened? What did I do? I can’t handle my parents being angry at me and you, too, Easton— '

“That’s the whole thing, Harper. I can’t fucking figure out why you wouldn't tell your parents about us. Am I this disgusting little secret to you? '

She backs up, like I just spit in her face, “What? Is that really what you think? '

“Now I do. '

I grab two books, toss them into my backpack, and slam the locker shut. “I had you over to my house for dinner, you sat with my parents, and it was clear to them—to everyone— that you’re my girlfriend. Yet, I’m this big fucking secret to your family. How do you think that makes me feel? '

“I... '

Her eyes are filling with tears. “I didn’t even think of it that way. '

“Because you didn’t think and that’s a fucking problem. '

“— '

“Do you know how much I've changed for you? I’ ve settled down, I've committed, I've basically ruined a friendship with Blake all because of you. And what are you doing for me? Lying to your family about us being together? '

She shakes her head, the first drip falling from her eyes. “No. It’s not like that. You know it’s not like that. '

“I do? Tell me. '

you,

kills me that she’s crying. That her parents are upset with her, that I’m upset with her, that she’s feeling raw as hell. But, damn it, she’s wrong, and I don’t know how to make it any clearer

ask her. “Your mother catches me eating your pussy and now I'm supposed to just go over to your house, like nothing happened? Like every time she looks at me, she’s not visualizing me on

... I

a whisper. “They're not talking to me, so

make this

“I will. '

reaches for me. “I promise.

waist, trying to pull me closer to her. “Please love me right now. I had the worst night, I’m falling apart from

fucked

and I’m going to fix it. They know now—about us, that we’ re having sex, that I’m on birth control so I

fucking die, and your dad probably wants to slit my throat. Thank God he didn't catch us.

description, and then shrugs. “Maybe?

up her hand the second I start to respond and says, “But they would anyway, think about it. I'm their little girl, every dad wants to kill the man their seventeen—year—old daughter

That doesn’t make me any happier. “I'm still

“I know. '

closer and I don't budge, she wraps her arms around my back, burying her face against

her tears soak through my shirt. “I needed you. I was hurting so badly.

I hold the back of her head, my fingers lost in her wet hair. “I didn’t want to abandon you, but fuck, Harper, that shit is

so, so sorry.

only imagine the next time I’m around them, I’m going to feel like the biggest piece of shit. I don’t want that. I've respected their daughter. I didn’t push her to fuck me. I made sure she was on the pill before I stopped using a condom. I've honored her—in ways I’ve never honored other women in the past. The drama, lately, never fucking ends. I kiss the top of her head, holding her tighter, when the bell rings. “We have to get to class,

tell her. “You're going to have to let

for a second longer, and then

“What? '

I borrow