You’re Mine by Penny Brooks

Chapter 167

Harper

Ever since my breakdown with Easton the other night, I feel like a complete idiot.

It's not like he can help where he gets accepted.

He's brilliant and rich on top of that.

I just had this oh shit moment of what happens to us along with the panic of how far we've come and what happens if everything gets stripped away? I'm not in the best mood when I get to school the next day, despite Easton's encouraging texts all night long and me apologizing, it just feels off.

I still haven't heard from any school, and no matter how many times you refresh your email on your phone, it's not like the colleges go, oh cool, she's finally ready for us to email her.

Despite all that, I still refresh my email once I'm in the parking lot of the school.

My hands shake as I stare down at the screen.

I have new emails.

And one is from a college, I panic, then get excited, then panic again.

I probably wouldnt even notice if Aisha was breathing down my neck like a dirty little dragon whore.

I click open.

And nearly drop my phone.

I got into San Jose State.

Granted, it wasn't my first choice, but I'm at least going to be going to a college and not having to explain to people that I wanted a year off or that I wanted to go to a community school.

God, that would have been horrible.

I smile down at my phone again.

"Looking at porn?" a deep voice asks.

“Hilarious.” I turn and throw my arms around Easton.

"Whoa!" He hugs me back.

“What's this for? The naked dudes you were just looking at or—" "—Shut it!" I squeeze him tighter then whisper into his ear, "I got into San Jose State"

His body tenses, then relaxes as he squeezes my body and rocks me back and forth.

“I'm so fucking proud of you"

he's not there and I've come to rely on him the way you rely on air so you can breathe— and not in a needy way—but a way that's necessary because you love it so

his mouth against mine

"This is epic"

"I know"

Tears fill my eyes.

“I wasn't," he

move away, but

"I wasnt," he repeats.

I've ever known, of course, any college would want you? Hell,

smile

get on your hands and knees?" He immediately moves away

"NO!" I laugh.

up!" He shrugs and puts

Oh God.

starting to

Dancing moment but the opposite where

I hiss his name again as phones come

snicker but in a funny way like they're catching the

I dig it.

I really do.

rises, his body

clothes could send

get so lucky? "About the

of liked

I don't

my head back and

out of control,

Stanford"

you just crawling toward her?" Ryan comes up and shakes his

students, do not

dies the minute Ryan

as he looks between us, then forces a smile and grabs Easton

over notes that just prove again why he got into Stanford and why even if I had the money—I'd

throat and start walking while Easton jogs ahead, swearing that he forgot one of his books in

in the parking lot, him running

what if this really is

hits me in the back of the

over the head with Easton's notebook, you freak?" I shove

out of the way

look and the fact

overthinking this; it's

okay.” I