You’re Mine by Penny Brooks

Chapter 124

Easton

I'm a fucking mess through last period and can't even fucking text Harper to apologize or discuss the whole thing with her mom.

The sick feeling I get in my chest when I think about her not claiming me and of course on top of that the picture.

Fuckkkk, the damn picture. I see Sadie the minute I get out of class and think, oh good, someone I can convince to be on my side, when she smacks me on the ass with her backpack.

"The hell, Sadie!”

“How could you hurt her like that! I thought you trusted her! She was bawling."

Her own eyes tear up. "Really, Easton?

I mean, fucking, really?"

"Keep your voice down."

I grab her by the elbow and bring her toward my locker when Ryan walks up. "Is there a reason you're hitting him?"

"Yes,"

she seethes and looks around us. "He has a picture of Leigh on his phone with her tits just dangling out there and Harper saw it and it was the same day...it was..."

She shakes her head. "That same fucking day you guys decided to get serious, you lied, Easton. AGAIN!”

"Keep your voice down!"

Ryan repeats and shares a look with me. "Sadie, you don't know the whole story.”

Her eyes widen. "You knew?"

"Shit."

Ryan lowers his head. "Look, can we do this in the parking lot at least?

People are starting to stare."

ready to

miserable, I'm still on the verge of tears as we leave

me, but she jerks out of his embrace and already I feel guilty because I know she's taking sides and is

heading toward Sadie's car, and I know all hell is about to break loose as Blake follows behind her and

A fucking scrunchie?

say, “You dropped this

at her, tuffles her hair and says, "Good game, thanks for handing me my

over at me and smiles. "Maybe winning first isn't where it's at

kill him. Blood pumps through my body as my nostrils flare. Ryan grabs me before I can run after Blake

maybe we should just

You could use it"

could, but I want to talk to Harper. The minute my eyes search for her again, she's already hopping into

She hesitates

Sadie gives me the finger and burns out of the parking lot, like she's getting

my Jeep and

"Tell me everything, like you're a girl on a super dramatic reality show.

my teeth and stare at my

tree thing called

that

"Yes,"

love of God, can we

his hands in surrender. "Fine by me, again, it's my sister. If I could

your mom feels

have constant second—hand embarrassment and horror, just so you

have nightmares of her

lean back in the chair,

didn't tell their parents

chaos that is Leigh. And to his credit, Ryan sits there and listens, though I can tell I'm

sure he wishes each of the Cokes had rum

damn bottle at

support it, the picture that is, but she's so stressed out, man. Mom and Dad were

He clears his throat.

even communicate with you right now and seeing that on your screen couldn't have been easy after all the lies and

they do when one has to pee and seventeen of them get up and go. The point

going to be