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 of her

looks up at

"I always worry"

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

She

you know.’

to feel

"We both

and then shows me

takes a huge gulp out

fun today!" And there it

The fakeness.

it's 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 the money

I start to understand her a bit more

rest of my apple in the trash, and go grab Ryan's car, the one she borrowed

by the time I'm there, I see

Of course.

inseparable these days, not like I actually had a

right away hear yelling and

parents are in the kitchen

over his head while Harper yells and

Her dad's laughing.

mom's rolling

digging into the bacon like

and realize something in

Is college important? Yes.

it important to follow your dreams?

what's more important?

Love.

Laughter.

This.

smile and toss Ryan's keys in the air twice before dropping them onto the

I'm

their dad nods his head, and then an alarm

her apron and scrambles around the kitchen while their dad quickly

“Gotta go!" he says.

luck!" They're flying by me before I

the hell?" I

comes over and wraps her arms

is what happens when your parents find a Groupon

for three hours.” "I suddenly

I grip her ass.

curses under his

my car back in good shape?" "Nah, 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

course I took care of

His eyes narrow.

that was also weirdly detailed.”

“Fuck you,’ he growls, grabbing a piece of bacon and sitting next