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

Hmm.

if

arrive, all sorts of people start to

music and it's fucking

girls brought giant platters of food from a local Mexican restaurant and everyone

and Sadie are hanging out, dancing to the music with giant smiles on their faces and I

short denim shorts and

her face and she keeps batting it away, laughing at

one of those shy smiles that make my

a sip from my beer, my gaze never

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

else

sip from

believe you gave up Stanford

like it was

Ryan rolls his eyes.

is an excellent school.” "Your parents cool with you changing your plan?"

always

never asked me once what

assumed I would follow in

of my life, I figured I'd do the

closer to me,

the end of my junior year—the realization that law school

couldnt imagine spending the next seven or eight years of my life going to

coming to work for my father and eventually

sounded like

down, I didn't want to disappoint my father or cause a fight, so

right beside me, going on

usually do whatever the fuck I want, but for whatever reason, the idea of disappointing my parents about my future choices—specifically my

UCLA only because of your sister,” I finally answer, my gaze still on her as she continues to dance with

she helped make the

for what I want, and stand up

thank God my parents didn't give me too much shit

Eventually"

whipped.” Ryan tips his head back, draining the last of

to talk, considering you're going

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