You’re Mine by Penny Brooks

Chapter 134

Chapter 134
Harper
Easton and Dad return from the patio and Easton looks like he's seen a ghost.

Or an entire colony or paranormal creatures.

He's pale and sweaty and I feel terrible for him.

I can't believe Dad hauled him outside.

Well, I can, but I can't imagine what he said to him.

Part of me wants to ask Easton when we get a minute alone, and part of me would rather never know to save myself the embarrassment.

“Are you all right?"

I whisper the moment he's at my side.

"No."

He wipes his forehead.

"I'll never recover from that conversation.

Ever."

I glance at my dad who's now standing next to my mom as she adds dressing to the salad.

The two of them smiling at each other, like they just checked the final item off their list.

"Was it that bad?"

“Let's put it this way ..."

He glances toward the oven.

“If there are buns in there, baking, don't serve me one."

He adjusts his shirt and I see the sweat marks under his arms.

"In fact, I don't know if I'll ever eat another bun again."

Oh God.

It was THAT bad.

"I'm going to go add ice to the water glasses,"

I declare, and quickly fill a large bowl with cubes and carry it into the dining room, Easton on my heels.

When I get us out of ear range, I say softly, "What did he say to you?"

He holds onto the back of a chair.

"Oh, he covered it all—birth control, pregnancy, not being allowed in your room or touching you under his roof, you going to college, dropping out of college because of me."

He pauses.

"I think I've covered most of it."

"I think I'm going to be sick."

He shakes his head.

"That makes two of us."

I drop the ice into the glasses and move over to him.

He immediately takes a step back.

And then another.

“Easton?"

"I don't want him to think anything is happening in here."

"Seriously?"

place the bowl on the

like that?* He

out

you have no idea."

"Ugh."

my father,

come fast

Except ...

I really mean

be off to

I will be, too.

if those places aren't anywhere

done, can you grab it from

mother calls from

clink of ice being put in the glasses and no longer wants us

already getting

"Be right back,"

into the kitchen, grabbing the mitts before

is

“Mom?"

knife still in her

“Mmm—hmm?"

say this,

has gotten the

Can we...

I don't know ...

and never mention"—I nod toward the living

sets the knife down, the noise making a

you really think you're in a

her hands

off thin

have your

down your neck every time you leave

it, you hear

back, I don’t care where we end up, graduation needs

answer, giving her a taste of

Ryan shouts from the front door, in

suddenly floods

is standing, he mouths, “Thank fucking

“You're late,"

the arm as he joins

Sadie, she was being

“Ryan!"

her face turning

"He's lying!"

toward Mom and she's smiling, hugging Ryan hello, not an

course, she doesn't get upset by what

He's a son.

shenanigans don't

Ugh.

Again.

“How's it going?"

whispers as

about to raid your parents’ liquor

he hasn't

"That good, huh?"

have to fake an illness or

pulls out of our hug,

"I'm glad you didn't.

and not

you for life and the next time you'd see Easton, you'd be his neighbor in some

laughing at the

So does Sadie.

the anxiousness I've been feeling makes me

“What's so funny?"

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