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?"

the bowl on the

that?* He

weren't out

you have no idea."

"Ugh."

my father, but

come

Except ...

I really mean

be off

I will be, too.

places aren't

can you grab

calls from

of ice being put in the glasses and no

is already getting

"Be right back,"

into the kitchen, grabbing the mitts before I reach

gone, and Mom is cutting and

“Mom?"

the knife still in her

“Mmm—hmm?"

this, but I need

gotten the

Can we...

I don't know ...

never mention"—I nod toward the

the noise making a clank against

think you're in a

hands on

just got off thin

have your

neck every time

push it, you

where we

I answer, giving her a taste of her own

armrrrived, Ryan shouts from the front door, in a sing—song

floods

entryway of the kitchen, where Easton is standing, he mouths, “Thank

“You're late,"

arm as

she was being

“Ryan!"

her face

"He's lying!"

Ryan hello,

get upset by

He's a son.

don't apply to

Ugh.

Again.

“How's it going?"

as

to raid your parents’

surprised he

"That good, huh?"

fake an

of

"I'm glad you didn't.

and not exactly

the next time you'd see Easton,

laughing at

So does Sadie.

and all the anxiousness I've been feeling makes

“What's so funny?"

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