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"

on him the way you rely on air so you can breathe— and not in

pulls away only slightly, enough to press his mouth against mine and make

"This is epic"

"I know"

Tears fill my eyes.

was so worried.” “I wasn't," he says

to move away, but

"I wasnt," he repeats.

want you? Hell,

my smile

to get on your hands and knees?"

"NO!" I laugh.

up!" He shrugs and

Oh God.

are starting

the opposite where Jonny's on the ground and baby's watching

his name again

funny way like they're catching the hottest guy on school legit crawling

I dig it.

I really do.

slowly rises, his body sliding against mine

could send us to

did I get so lucky? "About the crawling...” he says

of liked acting

that's wrong, I don't want to

my head back and

out of control,

Stanford"

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

Stanford students, do not crawl my

fun mood dies the minute Ryan

Ryan realizes it as he looks between us, then forces a smile and

bag, handing over notes that just prove again why he got into Stanford and why even if I had the money—I'd never be able

throat and start walking while Easton jogs ahead, swearing that he

have? With us flirting in the parking lot, him running to class, and me watching everything pass us by in a blur? I want to

what if this really

the back of

the hell did you bang me over the head with Easton's notebook, you freak?" I shove my

of the way and

that look and the fact that my

overthinking this;

I roll my