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?"

the bowl

that?* He

weren't out there

you have no idea."

"Ugh."

want to kill my father, but

can't come

Except ...

I really mean

be off

I will be, too.

aren't anywhere near each

can you

calls

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

already

"Be right back,"

the kitchen, grabbing the

gone, and Mom is cutting and plating the garlic

“Mom?"

the knife

“Mmm—hmm?"

say this, but I need to say

the wrath from

Can we...

I don't know ...

move on and never mention"—I nod toward

noise making a

really think you're in a position to

hands on

got off thin

have your phone

your neck every time you leave

it, you

don’t care where we end up, graduation needs

her a taste

the front door,

floods through

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

“You're late,"

my brother in the arm as he joins

she was being

“Ryan!"

her

"He's lying!"

hugging Ryan hello,

course, she doesn't get upset by what

He's a son.

shenanigans don't apply to

Ugh.

Again.

“How's it going?"

whispers as she hugs

like he's about to raid your

he hasn't

"That good, huh?"

going to have to fake an illness or drop the lasagna or set the kitchen sink

pulls out of our

"I'm glad you didn't.

liar and not exactly

time you'd see Easton, you'd be his neighbor

laughing at

So does Sadie.

and all the anxiousness

“What's so funny?"

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