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."

appears ready to chop

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

his embrace and already I feel guilty because

in the parking lot, 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

tuffles her hair and says, "Good game, thanks for handing me my ass. It was actually more

smiles. "Maybe winning first

as my nostrils flare. Ryan grabs me before I can run after Blake or just hop into my car, start the engine,

maybe we should just head out

You could use it"

I want to talk to Harper. The minute my eyes search for her again, she's

call out. She

clicks herself in while Sadie gives me the finger and burns out of the parking lot, like she's getting chased by the devil after stealing

blindly crawl into my Jeep

his knuckles and says, "Tell me everything, like you're a girl on

stare at my empty

thing called the

that better

"Yes,"

"For the love of God,

"Fine by me, again, it's

“I'm sure your mom

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

nightmares of her face

lean back in the chair, explaining how

me as I explain how much it hurt that Harper didn't tell their parents she

credit, Ryan sits there and listens, though I can tell

sure he wishes each of the

me a damn bottle

know why you kept it and I still support

He clears his throat.

with you right

know Sadie isn't being helpful either because girls have this need to stick together like they do when one has to pee and seventeen of them

going to be