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?"

place the bowl on the

like that?*

weren't out there

you have no idea."

"Ugh."

kill my father, but

come

Except ...

I really mean

be

I will be, too.

places aren't anywhere near

can you grab it from the

calls from the

hearing the clink of ice being put in the glasses and no

is already

"Be right back,"

the kitchen, grabbing the mitts before I reach into

is cutting and plating

“Mom?"

the knife still in her

“Mmm—hmm?"

to say this,

has gotten the wrath from

Can we...

I don't know ...

move on and never mention"—I nod toward

down, the noise making

you really think you're in a position to

hands on her

off thin

your

not breathing down your neck every time you leave this

it,

care where we end

her a taste of

shouts from the front door,

suddenly floods through

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

“You're late,"

the arm as he joins

Sadie, she was being

“Ryan!"

shouts, her

"He's lying!"

hugging Ryan hello,

she doesn't get upset by what Ryan

He's a son.

shenanigans don't apply

Ugh.

Again.

“How's it going?"

as she hugs

about to raid

he

"That good, huh?"

you didn't show up soon, I was going to have to fake an illness or drop the lasagna or set the

pulls out of

"I'm glad you didn't.

and not exactly

up grounding you for life and the next time you'd see Easton, you'd be his

laughing at the

So does Sadie.

all the

“What's so funny?"

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