You’re Mine by Penny Brooks

Chapter 169

Harper

He's acting weirder than normal.

My eyes narrow as Easton stares into his spaghetti then looks up at me like he's trying to figure something out.

I frown.

"So, Harper his dad says, "what are your plans next year?" Easton shifts in his seat while I reach across and put my hand on his thigh.

“Honestly, I'm not sure.

I got accepted into San Jose State, so I'll probably go there.” "Ah, congrats"

His dad raises his wine glass.

"Might be hard being away from Easton, huh?" Talk about stating the obvious.

He drinks his red wine, tossing it back in two sips before setting his empty glass back down and looking between us.

"If it's supposed to work.

It will"

That's it.

That's all he says before getting up; even Easton's mom is grinning at us like her smile is either frozen, or she's trying to look encouraging.

Nothing about their expressions are helpful, nor do they make me feel better about my life right now.

"Easton.."

His mom stands and spreads her hands wide across her black designer skirt.

Even her makeup is perfect, her lipstick still somehow on after eating dinner, her smile white, and her dark hair pulled back into a low bun that just manages to look both pretty and classy at the same time.

"Why dont you and Harper watch a movie or something? Use the last few months you have together before school.” Her smile is genuine, but my gut still sinks to my feet as Easton stands and holds out his hand.

We walk toward the living room, and then he tugs me down the hall into the theater room, and we walk inside.

He says nothing as he grabs the remote and turns on Netflix.

He presses play on Red Notice and snatches a blanket from the little basket next to the wet bar, then curses under his breath and goes back, grabbing a bottle of expensive whiskey and slumping into a seat holding his arms out like he wants me to sit on his lap.

I do.

I sit there.

how

so, I feel how sad

is handed

then hand it back; we do this for at least five minutes, each of us getting buzzed

neither of

exists without us together in it, at

He can't leave.

I cant leave.

he'll probably fake a fight and break my heart in order to stop

breaking it, and I would let him because of his love

I whisper his name; I taste it on my tongue and wonder what it would be like years from now, remembering his name, saying it, worshipping it,

want to imagine

my heart

mixed, our hands aren't tangled, our bodies aren't pressed against one another, and where our heartbeats

bleeding

nothing you can do to stop the wound; that's what it feels like sitting on his lap and imagining a

being dramatic, and then

can't do it.” My eyes

to do?"

you

for you-" I smile to myself "—isn't measured by

size of

"Very funny.” For some reason, I want to burst

buzzes next to me on the

grab it

are checking

Typical.

For some reason.

check my email, then

"SHIT!" I yell.

stumble away from him and start

Are you okay? What's going on? What?"

I'm yelling and jumping.

in!”

"Right!" He laughs.

little

He freezes.

jumping in

I'm pulled into his

is crashing against mine, and I'm once again wondering why I

hard “—amazing!"

"My dream college"

eyes locked on mine in a way that says, follow them but know that I wish I was there with you as

he was