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

that?*

out there

you have no idea."

"Ugh."

kill my

can't come

Except ...

really

be off to

I will be, too.

aren't anywhere

the lasagna is done, can

mother calls from the

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

already getting

"Be right back,"

the kitchen, grabbing the

is mysteriously gone, and Mom is cutting and plating

“Mom?"

glances up, the knife still in her

“Mmm—hmm?"

to say this, but I need

the wrath

Can we...

I don't know ...

a promise to move on and never mention"—I nod toward the living room where the Christmas

noise making a

think you're in a

her hands

got off thin ice, young

have your

breathing down your neck every time you leave

push it, you hear

where we end up, graduation needs to happen right

I answer, giving her a taste of her own

from the front door, in a sing—song

floods

is standing, he mouths, “Thank fucking

“You're late,"

say, punching my brother in the arm as he joins us in

she was

“Ryan!"

her face

"He's lying!"

she's smiling, hugging Ryan hello,

get upset by

He's a son.

tree shenanigans don't apply

Ugh.

Again.

“How's it going?"

as she hugs

looks like he's about to raid your parents’ liquor

surprised he

"That good, huh?"

to have to fake an illness or drop

out of

"I'm glad you didn't.

horrible liar and not exactly

you'd see Easton, you'd

start laughing at the

So does Sadie.

the whole build—up of tonight and all the anxiousness I've been feeling makes me

“What's so funny?"