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 on the

that?*

weren't out there

you have no idea."

"Ugh."

my father,

can't come

Except ...

really mean

will be

I will be, too.

places aren't

is done, can you grab it from the

calls from

stopped hearing the clink of ice being put in the glasses and

already getting

"Be right back,"

kitchen, grabbing the

is cutting and plating

“Mom?"

up, the knife

“Mmm—hmm?"

say this, but I

the wrath

Can we...

I don't know ...

move on and never mention"—I nod toward the living room

sets the knife down, the noise making a clank

really think you're in a position to

puts her hands

got off thin ice,

your phone

down your neck every time you

it, you

we

a taste of her

the

suddenly floods through

of the kitchen, where Easton is standing,

“You're late,"

the arm as he joins us in

she was

“Ryan!"

her face

"He's lying!"

she's smiling, hugging Ryan

course, she doesn't get upset by

He's a son.

tree shenanigans don't

Ugh.

Again.

“How's it going?"

as she

to raid your

surprised he

"That good, huh?"

fake an

of our

"I'm glad you didn't.

and not exactly

the next time you'd see Easton, you'd be his neighbor in some old— ass assisted living

laughing

So does Sadie.

the whole build—up of tonight and all the

“What's so funny?"

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