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

feel how sad he

bottle is handed

hand it back; we do this for at least five minutes, each

but neither

that exists without us together in it, at least that's how it feels as we both think about our

He can't leave.

I cant leave.

assume he'll probably fake a fight and break my heart in order to stop the pain from leaving

and I

and wonder what it would be like years from

dont want to imagine that sort of

my

aren't tangled, our bodies aren't pressed against one another, and

like bleeding out—this

to stop the wound; that's what it feels like sitting on his lap and

I'm being dramatic, and then he rests his head against

it.” My

going to do?"

love you no

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

size of your

For some reason, I want to burst

phone buzzes next to

grab it really

are checking

Typical.

For some reason.

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

"SHIT!" I yell.

from him and start

okay? What's going on? What?" He's

I'm yelling and jumping.

got in!”

"Right!" He laughs.

Jose, you little

He freezes.

keep jumping

pulled into

is crashing against mine, and I'm once again wondering why I would ever want to be in a place where this

he kisses me hard “—amazing!" Tears stream down my

"My dream college"

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

was my