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 the

like that?*

out

you have no idea."

"Ugh."

kill my father, but

come fast

Except ...

I really

will be off to

I will be, too.

those places aren't anywhere near

lasagna is done, can

calls from

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

already

"Be right back,"

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

gone, and Mom is cutting and

“Mom?"

up, the knife still in her

“Mmm—hmm?"

know how to say this, but

gotten the

Can we...

I don't know ...

nod toward the living room where the Christmas tree

down, the noise making a clank against the

think you're in

her hands

got off thin ice, young

your phone

neck every time you

push it, you hear

care where we end up, graduation needs to happen right

answer, giving her a taste of

from the front door, in a sing—song

floods through

standing, he mouths, “Thank fucking God,’ telling me he feels the

“You're late,"

in the arm as he joins us in

Sadie, she

“Ryan!"

her face turning

"He's lying!"

Ryan hello,

get

He's a son.

tree shenanigans don't apply

Ugh.

Again.

“How's it going?"

whispers as she hugs

looks like he's about to raid

surprised he hasn't

"That good, huh?"

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

of our

"I'm glad you didn't.

a horrible liar and not exactly

you for life and the next time you'd see

laughing at

So does Sadie.

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

“What's so funny?"