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.

tonight's going to be fun as hell.” I definitely don't have Ryan's positivity when it comes to this

relationship have been the center of every controversy that’s

would make things much better?” I

got you,” Ryan says, and I instantly

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

who's going to

“Everyone,” Sadie replies.

over to your house and saw a ton of stories of

of an audience.” “Um, no,” Sadie

it's going to be, so less peeps paying attention

one of Blake’s mirrors? Seems like everywhere I go,

can’t

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

“That's why we're going to have fun tonight.” I glance in the rearview mirror, making sure Ryan and Sadie see me, letting them know we

think we could all use some, don’t you?” “Hell yes,”

Harper the joint, glancing over to see her suck down several

she passes it to Ryan, I grab

gorgeous,”

and

can you drop us off first? You might be my

and it’s a sound

block from Blake’s house and we join

I bring her fingers up to my mouth and kiss across her knuckles, keeping an eye on her as

I ring his doorbell, waiting for her to look

“Remember ...

fun.” She nods.

that’s all we’re going to

as I say those words and what will happen if

need my

that

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

finally here.” As I step inside, the

long, glittery tails giving the room almost a

holding

definitely fun

and my entire body