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?* He

out there

you have no idea."

"Ugh."

my father, but

can't come

Except ...

I really

be

I will be, too.

aren't anywhere near each

done, can you grab it from

calls from the

stopped hearing the clink of ice being put in the glasses and

is already getting

"Be right back,"

into the kitchen, grabbing the

Mom is cutting and plating the

“Mom?"

the knife still in

“Mmm—hmm?"

say this, but I need

the wrath from

Can we...

I don't know ...

toward the living

sets the knife down, the noise making

you really think you're in

hands on

got off thin ice,

have your

down your neck every time you

push it, you

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

her a taste of her own

from the front door,

floods

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

“You're late,"

say, punching my brother in the arm as he joins

Sadie, she was being

“Ryan!"

her face

"He's lying!"

look toward Mom and she's smiling, hugging Ryan hello,

doesn't get upset by what Ryan

He's a son.

don't apply

Ugh.

Again.

“How's it going?"

as

like he's about to raid your parents’ liquor

surprised he hasn't

"That good, huh?"

fake an illness or drop the lasagna or set

of

"I'm glad you didn't.

and not exactly a professional

the next time you'd see Easton, you'd be his neighbor in

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?"