You’re Mine by Penny Brooks

Chapter 174

Easton

It's the weekend and my parents are out of town so that calls fora celebration.

What exactly we're celebrating, I'm not sure.

But do we need to have a reason to party? I dont think so.

I'm dragging a cooler out on the back patio when my first guests show up, all three of them strolling into my back yard.

Harper, Sadie and Ryan.

“Hope you have lots of booze tonight!" Sadie does a little shimmy, hip checking my girlfriend and nearly sending her toppling over.

"Plenty for you Sadie,’ I tell her, extending my arm toward Harper and pulling her to me, delivering a quick kiss to her lips.

"Hey beautiful"

She smiles, her hand resting on my chest.

"I will never get tired of hearing you say that"

“Gag.” This comes from Ryan, who's watching us with a scowl on his face.

"You two disgust me"

"Stop being such a grouch"

Sadie lightly slaps Ryan's arm.

"You should be happy right now"

"Is there a specific reason why he should be happy?" Harper asks, her gaze questioning.

"We discussed it a couple of nights ago and...Ryan and I are going to college together!" Sadie throws both arms up in the air, her expression triumphant.

“Oh my God!” Harper pulls away from me to wrap her best friend up ina hug.

"I'm so excited for you!” "I'm excited too.” Sadie hugs her back.

"And so is Ryan.

Ryan?" "Sure, Ryan says

Hmm.

if

all sorts of

starts playing music

platters of food from a local Mexican restaurant and

dancing to the music with giant smiles on their faces and I can't stop staring at my

denim shorts and

her face and she keeps batting it away, laughing at whatever Sadie says as she keeps

of

a sip from my beer, my gaze never leaving her even

sister, don't you?" I glance

else in

a sip from his

you gave up

it was

Ryan rolls his eyes.

parents cool with you changing

was always my

never asked me once what I

just assumed I would follow in

life, I figured I'd do the same,’

a step closer to me, his

up just for Harper?" It started the end of my junior year—the realization that law school didn't

years of my life going to college and law

my father and eventually take over the

like a

father or cause a

beside me, going on and on about my chances and how I would be a

want, but for whatever reason, the idea of disappointing my parents about

only because of your sister,” I finally answer, my

she helped make the

the strength to fight for what I want, and

parents didn't give me too

Eventually"

Ryan tips his head back, draining the

no room to talk, considering you're going to the

knew I wanted to go there.” Ryan