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?"

bowl

like that?*

out

you have no idea."

"Ugh."

want to kill my father, but I

can't come fast

Except ...

I really

will be off to

I will be, too.

if those places aren't

is done, can you grab it

calls

put

already

"Be right back,"

the kitchen, grabbing the mitts before

gone, and Mom is cutting and plating

“Mom?"

knife still in her

“Mmm—hmm?"

don't know how to say this, but I

the wrath from

Can we...

I don't know ...

promise to move on and never mention"—I nod toward the

the noise

think you're in

hands on her

off thin

your phone

breathing down your neck

push it, you

care where we end

her a taste

Ryan shouts from the front door,

floods through

look toward the entryway of the kitchen, where Easton is standing, he mouths, “Thank fucking God,’ telling me he feels the

“You're late,"

in the arm

Sadie, she

“Ryan!"

her face

"He's lying!"

hugging Ryan hello, not an ounce

doesn't get upset by what Ryan

He's a son.

tree shenanigans don't apply to

Ugh.

Again.

“How's it going?"

whispers as she hugs

about to

surprised he

"That good, huh?"

fake an illness or drop the lasagna or set the kitchen sink on fire— something,

pulls out of

"I'm glad you didn't.

horrible liar and not exactly

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

laughing

So does Sadie.

all the anxiousness I've been feeling makes me laugh

“What's so funny?"

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