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, the really good fucking days, you can't imagine waking up without your

imagine breathing one more second without that person holding your hand and standing by

all sucks, I know if you really love each other, you'll get through it, fight for it, and come out on

claps her hands.

burst into tears again. "I'm sorry, I'm

that I missed school when I was sick, and I feel so much

with Aisha still feel like a true crime story

head. "Blake seemed extra

"He was pretty tame.

I let him because honestly everyone else was pairing up while

"Was he nice?"

examining her fingernails. "For Blake, I mean,

We had

at least distracted

nods. "I still think something's

"Yeah."

her that I'm back to wondering what exactly is off because I can't put my finger on it. "Maybe. I don't know. Either way, it was a horrible day and I hate that I

"Blake?"

rush to my laptop and open it.

at my

"Hey, beautiful, mind if I borrow you real

kisses Sadie on

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

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

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

fill my

“Anytime.”

pulls her out of my room, leaving me alone with my laptop and all my dark

a deep breath

And then I type.

we

but I

text you, so I at least thought I could email and let you know that no matter

And I'm still yours.