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.

going to be fun as hell.” I

the center of every controversy that’s come through

make things

joint.” “I've got you,” Ryan says, and I

paper between my fingers and

going to

“Everyone,” Sadie replies.

your house and saw a ton of stories of

of an audience.” “Um, no,”

it's going to be, so less peeps paying attention to you and Easton.”

one of Blake’s mirrors? Seems like everywhere I go, I’m hit with those wonderful

can’t

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

in the rearview mirror, making sure Ryan and Sadie see me, letting them know we all need to watch out

use some, don’t you?” “Hell

joint, glancing over to see her suck

it to Ryan,

look gorgeous,” I

fingers to trace mine across her collarbone and down her side, feeling the tightness

can you drop us off first? You might be my boy, but she’s my sister, let's not forget that,”

a sound

a spot about a block from Blake’s house and we join hands the moment we're

I bring her fingers up to my mouth and kiss across

his doorbell, waiting for her

“Remember ...

fun.” She nods.

we’re going

responsibility I’m taking on as I say those words and what will happen if some shit goes

my mystery

need that

door, grinning while he says, “My party people!” He pounds each of our

I step inside, the music

ceiling, their long, glittery tails giving the room almost a psychedelic

holding cups,

definitely fun

Harper and