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 on the

like that?* He

weren't out there

you have no idea."

"Ugh."

my father,

can't come fast

Except ...

I really mean

be

I will be, too.

aren't anywhere near

can you grab it

mother calls from the

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

is already getting

"Be right back,"

I hurry into the kitchen, grabbing the mitts before I reach

gone, and Mom is cutting and plating

“Mom?"

glances up, the knife still in

“Mmm—hmm?"

how to say this, but I need

the

Can we...

I don't know ...

mention"—I nod toward the living room where the Christmas tree sits

noise making a clank against the

think you're in a position to

hands on her

got off thin ice,

have your phone

breathing down your neck every

it, you hear

take that back, I don’t care where we end up, graduation needs to happen right

her a taste of her

the front door, in a sing—song

suddenly floods through

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

“You're late,"

say, punching my brother in the arm

she

“Ryan!"

shouts, her face

"He's lying!"

she's smiling, hugging Ryan hello, not an ounce of anger on

doesn't get upset by

He's a son.

tree shenanigans don't apply to

Ugh.

Again.

“How's it going?"

whispers as she

about to raid your parents’ liquor

he

"That good, huh?"

up soon, I was going to have to fake an illness or drop the

of our

"I'm glad you didn't.

a horrible liar and not

end up grounding you for life and the next time you'd see Easton, you'd

start laughing

So does Sadie.

tonight and all the

“What's so funny?"

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