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?"

place the bowl

that?*

out there

you have no idea."

"Ugh."

to kill my father, but

can't come fast

Except ...

really mean

will be

I will be, too.

those places aren't

done, can you grab

mother calls

ice being put in the glasses and no longer wants us

is already

"Be right back,"

Easton and I hurry into the kitchen, grabbing the

gone, and Mom is cutting and plating the

“Mom?"

knife still in

“Mmm—hmm?"

this,

gotten the wrath

Can we...

I don't know ...

on and never mention"—I nod toward the

the knife down, the noise making a

really think you're in

puts her hands on her

just got off

have your phone

neck every time

push it,

we end

her a taste of

the front door, in

floods through

is standing, he mouths,

“You're late,"

punching my brother in the arm as he joins

Sadie, she was being

“Ryan!"

shouts, her face turning

"He's lying!"

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

she doesn't get

He's a son.

don't apply

Ugh.

Again.

“How's it going?"

as she

to raid your parents’ liquor

surprised he

"That good, huh?"

to fake an illness or drop the lasagna or set the kitchen

pulls out of

"I'm glad you didn't.

a horrible liar and not exactly a professional

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

laughing at the

So does Sadie.

of tonight and all the anxiousness I've been feeling makes me

“What's so funny?"

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