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 chop

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

of his embrace and already

and I know all hell is about to break loose as Blake follows behind her and

A fucking scrunchie?

“You dropped

thanks for

smiles. "Maybe winning

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

should just head out and talk

You could use it"

Harper. The minute my eyes search for her again, she's already hopping

call out. She

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

then I blindly crawl into my Jeep

knuckles and says, "Tell me everything, like you're a girl on a super dramatic reality show. Then, tell me why

and stare at my empty plate.

tree thing called

that

"Yes,"

"For the love of God, can we not

again, it's my sister. If I could

your mom feels the same

second—hand embarrassment and horror,

have nightmares of

and lean back in the chair, explaining how everything

explain how much it hurt that Harper didn't tell their parents she had a fucking boyfriend who also happens to be her brother's best

Leigh. And to his credit, Ryan sits there and listens, though I can tell I'm stressing him

he wishes each of the Cokes had rum in

bottle at

kept it and I still support it, the picture that is,

He clears his throat.

she can't even communicate with you right now and seeing that

have this need to stick together like they do when one has to pee and seventeen of them get up

to be