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

like that?* He

weren't out

you have no idea."

"Ugh."

kill my father, but I

come

Except ...

really

will be off to

I will be, too.

if those places aren't anywhere near

done, can you

calls

stopped hearing the clink of ice being put in

already

"Be right back,"

hurry into the kitchen, grabbing the mitts before I

is cutting

“Mom?"

up, the knife still in her

“Mmm—hmm?"

to say this, but I need

has gotten the wrath

Can we...

I don't know ...

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

the noise

really think you're in

hands on her

got off

your

neck

it, you

I don’t care where we end up, graduation needs

answer, giving her a

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

suddenly floods

Easton is standing,

“You're late,"

punching my brother in the arm as he joins

she was being

“Ryan!"

her face turning

"He's lying!"

Ryan hello, not an ounce of anger on her

she doesn't get upset by what

He's a son.

don't

Ugh.

Again.

“How's it going?"

as she hugs

he's about to raid your

he

"That good, huh?"

I was going to have to fake an

out of our hug,

"I'm glad you didn't.

a horrible liar and

for life and the next time you'd see

laughing at

So does Sadie.

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

“What's so funny?"

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255