You’re Mine by Penny Brooks

 Easton

 There’s only one way I want to spend New Year’s Eve and that’s with my girl, her lips locked on mine at midnight, and zero drama, especially now that I know we're in the kid—free zone.

Holy fuck, that was close.

Too close.

But the overflowing amount of drama that’s surrounded us lately is why I wasn’t sure that I was going to head to Blake’s New Year’ S party, even though Harper and I had been invited.

Blake still isn’t my favorite person in this world.

Where he travels, Aisha is never far behind, and she’s nothing but trouble.

I just don’t want to deal with their bullshit.

But when I told Ryan that, he lost his shit and said I have no choice, I was going—that we're all going, him, Sadie, Harper, and me.

So now, I’m driving to Harper's house to pick up the three of them for the party.

Fortunately, they all come out as I pull into the driveaway, saving me from having to go inside and see her parents.

Thank fuck.

“Hi,” Harper says, leaning across the front seat to kiss me.

The diamond necklace I bought her for Christmas is sitting on her neck and I’m wearing the boxers and button—down she got me.

“Mmm, you taste delicious,” she adds.

“I taste like ...

me.” “Exactly.” I laugh, resting my hand on her thigh as Sadie and Ryan get into the back.

“Are you guys ready for this?” “I don’t know,” Harper replies, her voice now full of anxiety.

“I know Aisha is going to be there and that doesn't get me excited to go.” “But you know I'll cut a bitch if she tries to fuck with you,” Sadie chirps in.

“And I love you for that,” Harper adds.

“But I’m still ugh about it.” “Listen, if there’s drama tonight, we're all going down together,” Ryan says.

hell.” I

that’s because my girl and our relationship have been the center of every controversy that’s come through our school lately

make things much better?”

you,” Ryan says, and I instantly smell the smoke

between my fingers and take a hit, holding in the smoke until

know who's going to be there

“Everyone,” Sadie replies.

before I came over to your house and saw a ton of stories of all the girls getting ready.”

an audience.” “Um, no,” Sadie

the more of a distraction it's going to

of Blake’s mirrors? Seems

I can’t

leg as Sadie says, “Harp ...” “And I better be all smiles or WHGOSSIP is going to snap a pic of me in the most unflattering way and air it across every social media site with some headline that makes me want to die.” “Baby,” I whisper, gripping her

I glance in the rearview mirror, making sure Ryan

could all use some, don’t you?” “Hell

glancing over

she passes it to Ryan,

gorgeous,” I say

mine across her collarbone and down her side, feeling

to the party.” “Uh, can you drop us off first? You might be my boy,

laughs and it’s a sound

Blake’s house

we walk toward his mansion, I bring her fingers up to my mouth and kiss across her knuckles, keeping an

before I ring his doorbell,

“Remember ...

fun.” She nods.

we’re going

I know the responsibility I’m taking on as I say

my mystery

need that

Blake opens the door, grinning while he says, “My party people!” He

finally here.” As I step inside, the music

glittery tails giving the room almost

holding cups, dancing,

fun

Harper and my