You’re Mine by Penny Brooks

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 on

like that?* He

weren't out

you have no idea."

"Ugh."

my

come fast

Except ...

really mean

will be off

I will be, too.

places aren't anywhere

lasagna is done, can you grab it

mother calls from the

being put in the glasses

is already getting

"Be right back,"

the kitchen, grabbing the mitts before I reach into

is mysteriously gone, and Mom is cutting and

“Mom?"

up, the knife still

“Mmm—hmm?"

how to say this, but I need

gotten the

Can we...

I don't know ...

mention"—I nod toward the living room

the noise making a clank against

really think you're in a position

her hands on her

off

your

not breathing down your neck

it, you

I don’t care where we end

her a taste of her own

Ryan shouts from the front door, in

floods through

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

“You're late,"

arm as he joins us

Sadie, she was being

“Ryan!"

shouts, her face

"He's lying!"

toward Mom and she's smiling, hugging Ryan hello,

she doesn't get upset by

He's a son.

don't apply

Ugh.

Again.

“How's it going?"

as she hugs

he's about to raid your parents’ liquor

surprised he hasn't

"That good, huh?"

didn't show up soon, I was going to have to fake an illness or

out of

"I'm glad you didn't.

and

end up grounding you for life and the next time you'd see Easton, you'd be his neighbor in some old—

laughing

So does Sadie.

all the anxiousness I've been feeling makes me laugh even

“What's so funny?"