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 hard he

more so, I feel how sad

bottle is

at

but neither of us

one that exists without us together in it, at least that's how it feels as we

He can't leave.

I cant leave.

fake a fight and break my heart in order to stop

I would

be like years from now, remembering his name, saying

want to imagine that

my

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

bleeding out—this

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

and then he rests his head against

do it.”

we going to do?" He holds me

you

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

size of

funny.” For some reason, I want to burst into

next to

it really

are

Typical.

For some reason.

pain and check my email, then nearly fall

"SHIT!" I yell.

away from him and start to jump

you okay? What's going

I'm yelling and jumping.

got in!”

"Right!" He laughs.

little badass—" "=TO UCLA!"

He freezes.

keep jumping

then I'm pulled

mine, and I'm once again wondering why I would ever want to be in a place where this boy didn't

he kisses me hard “—amazing!" Tears

"My dream college"

locked on mine in a way that says, follow them but know that I wish I was there with you as if my dream could ever include something he wasnt

was my dream