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.

it because on those good days, the really good fucking

breathing one more second without that

each other, you'll get

claps her hands. “He's

then I burst into tears

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

like a true crime story ready to unravel

"Blake seemed extra friendly today.

was

let him because honestly everyone else was pairing up while I was throwing a pity

"Was he nice?"

Blake, I mean, since all the Aisha

was. We had

it at least distracted me for nearly an hour, which

"I still think

"Yeah."

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

"Blake?"

my laptop and open it. "Let me just send this

sounds at

lets himself in. "Hey, beautiful, mind

Sadie on

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

knew, blah, blah, blah, you all want to murder me, who runs the world,

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

my eyes.

“Anytime.”

grabs Sadie's arm and pulls her out of my room, leaving me alone with my laptop and all

a deep breath

And then I type.

we need to

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

do and how things got so complicated so fast, but... can't text you, so I at

And I'm still yours.