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.

feel how hard he

so, I feel how sad

bottle is

hand it back; we do this for at least five

but neither of

it, at least

He can't leave.

I cant leave.

a fight and break my heart in order to stop the pain

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

be like years from now, remembering his name, saying it, worshipping it, without

to imagine that

yet, my heart tries

mixed, our hands aren't tangled, our bodies aren't pressed against

bleeding out—this

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

think I'm being dramatic, and then he rests his

can't do it.”

are we going to do?" He holds me

you

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

by the size of

"Very funny.” For some reason, I want

next to

grab it really

are

Typical.

For some reason.

a distraction from the pain and check my email, then nearly fall off the

"SHIT!" I yell.

I stumble away from him and start to jump

okay? What's

I'm yelling and jumping.

got in!”

"Right!" He laughs.

San Jose, you little badass—" "=TO

He freezes.

jumping in

I'm pulled into

once again wondering why I would ever want to be in a place where this

he kisses me hard

"My dream college"

them but know that I wish I was

he was my