You’re Mine by Penny Brooks

Chapter 170

Easton

I didn't mention the elephant in the room with Harper.

Talking about money always felt weird, and after our champagne, I figured it would be smarter to just Uber her home and then have her come pick up her car later.

She left her keys with me, and I realized I could just drive the car back to her house tomorrow and see her at the same time.

Besides, I had news to tell her.

I got into UCLA too.

Basically, miracles do happen, and I was pumped as shit to get to her house and tell her.

I go down to the kitchen to grab something for breakfast and chug some coffee when my mom stops me and gives me the look every mom gives their kids when they want to have a talk.

“Something on your mind?" I ask, nervous that she already knows about UCLA and is going to try to steer me away from what I've already decided.

She hesitates, rubbing her fingers down her coffee cup like she’s nervous before blurting.

"Are you being safe?" So not what I expected her to say.

I trip a bit then grab an apple from the fruit basket even though my plan was to grab a breakfast sandwich from the freezer or at least a cold brew from the fridge.

"Hmm?" "Safe," she repeats.

"With...Harper.” "Safe as in I make her put her seatbelt on?" I awkwardly bite into the apple and chew.

"Yeah, Mom, we're safe.’ "Okay"

She nods.

"Okay, I just.."

She sets the coffee cup down on the counter.

"It’s important that you go to college—both of you.

And I don't want any surprises like a pregnancy or—" "—Gonna stop you right there.” Guilt creeps in.

"She's not pregnant, and we're being smart, not stupid, and Mom...” I pull her in for a side hug.

So now she wants to be a helicopter parent? Really? Only when it comes to college? It kind of burns, but I try not to focus on it as I hold her close and breathe in her Chanel perfume.

"I love you," I say simply.

“We're together now, and I love her.

We're taking one day at a time"

Mom exhales softly.

the top

though.” She looks up at me in

"I always worry"

for some reason, I'm suddenly seeing her differently, like

do.” She

know.’

start to

caring.” "We

coffee, and then shows me her megawatt

huge

fun today!" And there

The fakeness.

not being fake—maybe it's more about a shield she feels she needs to wear because of what my dad does and because of

think I start to understand her a bit more

head, put the rest of my apple in the trash, and go

to her house, and by the time I'm there, I see Sadie's car outside parked on

Of course.

these days, not like I actually had a

right away hear yelling and the

are in the

while Harper yells and jumps

Her dad's laughing.

rolling her

Sadie is busy digging into the bacon like

pause, just watching them, and realize

Is college important? Yes.

to follow

more important?

Love.

Laughter.

This.

the air twice before dropping them onto the

I'm

grins while their dad nods his head,

no!” Their mom pulls off her apron and scrambles around the kitchen while their dad quickly grabs his keys and

“Gotta go!" he says.

flying by me before I can even say

hell?"

over and wraps her

parents find a Groupon for golf lessons.”

for three hours.” "I suddenly feel the need to thank

I grip her ass.

under

I jerked off on every seat then made sure to watch some porn in the front seat while getting high and touching my dick every few seconds just to make sure the entire place smells like me and sex so you can never get it up

of course I took care

His eyes narrow.

was also weirdly

you piss yourself.” “Fuck you,’ he growls, grabbing a piece of bacon and sitting