You’re Mine by Penny Brooks

Chapter 125

Harper

"It would be so much easier if I still didn't feel like shit!"

I throw myself onto my bed as Sadie paces back and forth as if that's going to help the trauma of the day. Why can't things be easier?

I do love him. I do. I just feel betrayed. Hurt.

And exhausted, quite honestly, I could nap for ten days and probably still not feel rested.

Maybe it's the fact that I was so sick and jumped right back into school, the trauma of my mom finding us, or feeling guilty over not telling my parents about the love of my life.

Wow, take your pick.

"He's an asshole,’ she finally says. "Let him sweat it out a bit."

“Would you?"

I ask. "Let Ryan sweat it out?

Or would you communicate?

Hear him out?

Be mature?

I don't even know what I want to do. One minute, I want to run Easton over, the next I want to hold him and never let go.

He's mine, Sadie. Mine. I love him. I just...I don't understand this side of him. The one that's still holding back, the one that's afraid.”

She sighs. “Love is scary, babe. No matter how young or old you are.

It has no prejudices, it is what it is. One day, it cuts you so deep you think you might bleed out, the next day you wonder how you ever lived without that feeling.

you live in it because on those good days,

can't imagine breathing one more second without that person

all sucks, I know if you really love each other, you'll get

claps her hands. “He's dead

help it, and then I burst into tears again. "I'm sorry, I'm just so

school when I was sick, and I feel so much pressure over finals and getting

feel like a true crime story ready to unravel

"Blake seemed extra friendly today. Wanna

shrug. "He was pretty

honestly everyone else was pairing up while I was throwing a pity party

"Was he nice?"

asks, examining her fingernails. "For Blake, I mean, since all the Aisha

was. We had

distracted me for nearly an

still think something's off

"Yeah."

what exactly is off because I can't put my finger on it. "Maybe. I don't know. Either way, it was

"Blake?"

say, then rush to my laptop and open it. "Let me just

sounds at my

lets himself in. "Hey, beautiful, mind if I borrow you real

Sadie on

shoves him. "Nope, wait, you're friends with the

to the reason. Yes, I knew, blah, blah, blah, you all want to

eyes soften. "He loves you. He would never cheat on you. Besides, if he did, I'd cheerfully kill

fill my eyes.

“Anytime.”

my room, leaving me alone

a deep breath and get on

And then I type.

I know we need to

letting life kick my ass, but I miss you. I don't want to

to do and how things got so complicated so fast, but... can't text you, so I at least thought I could email and let you know that no matter what, right

And I'm still yours.