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?"

the bowl on the

like that?*

weren't out

you have no idea."

"Ugh."

kill my father, but

can't come

Except ...

I really mean

be off

I will be, too.

aren't anywhere near each

lasagna is done, can you grab it

mother calls

of ice being put in

already

"Be right back,"

hurry into the kitchen, grabbing the

gone, and Mom is cutting and plating

“Mom?"

the knife still in

“Mmm—hmm?"

know how to say this, but

the wrath

Can we...

I don't know ...

mention"—I nod toward the living room where

the knife down, the noise making a clank against the

really think you're in a position to

her hands on

off thin ice,

your phone

neck every time you leave

push it, you

I don’t care where we end

her a

Ryan shouts from the front door, in a

suddenly floods through

kitchen, where Easton is standing, he mouths, “Thank fucking God,’ telling me he feels the same

“You're late,"

my brother in the arm as

she was being

“Ryan!"

shouts, her face turning

"He's lying!"

smiling, hugging Ryan hello, not an ounce of anger on her

course, she doesn't get upset by what

He's a son.

tree shenanigans don't apply to

Ugh.

Again.

“How's it going?"

as she hugs

looks like he's about to

he

"That good, huh?"

going to have to fake an illness or drop the lasagna or set the kitchen sink on

of our

"I'm glad you didn't.

horrible liar and not exactly

life and the next time you'd see Easton,

start laughing at

So does Sadie.

of tonight and all the

“What's so funny?"