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.

"Sure, Ryan says

Hmm.

wonder if

after they arrive, all sorts of people start to

playing music

girls brought giant platters of food from a local

Sadie are hanging out, dancing to the music with giant smiles on their faces and I can't stop staring at

short denim shorts and the tight

and she keeps batting it

me staring and flashes one of those shy smiles that make my

take a sip from my beer, my gaze never leaving her even when I feel

really love my sister, don't you?" I glance over at Ryan who's

anything else in this

sip from his

cant believe you gave up Stanford for

was a hardship,” I

Ryan rolls his eyes.

"Your parents cool with you

always my

asked me once

would

life, I figured I'd do

takes a step closer

the truth—did you switch it up just for Harper?" It started the end of my junior year—the realization that law

eight years of my life going to college and law

my father and

like

want to disappoint my father or cause a fight, so

on and on about

the fuck I want, but for whatever reason, the idea of disappointing

your sister,” I finally answer, my gaze still

the decision

the strength to fight for what

parents didn't give

Eventually"

head back,

no room to talk, considering you're going to the same college as Sadie,’ I

applied to Chico State only because she knew I wanted to go