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.

if

all sorts of

starts playing music and it's fucking

platters of food from a

to the music with giant smiles

tonight in those short denim shorts

keeps batting it away, laughing at whatever Sadie

catches me staring and flashes one of those shy smiles that

sip from my beer, my gaze never leaving

I glance

else

a sip

believe you gave up

was a hardship,” I

Ryan rolls his eyes.

cool with you changing your plan?" “It was never my

always

asked me once

would follow in his

of my life, I figured

closer to me, his voice

It started the

seven or eight years of my life going

father and eventually

sounded like

my father or cause

thing I know, I'm applying to Stanford with my father sitting right beside me, going on and on about my chances and how I would be a legacy, carrying the family tradition

the idea of disappointing my parents about my future choices—specifically my father

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

she helped make the decision easier

what

thank God my parents didn't give me too

Eventually"

his head back, draining the

going to the

she knew I wanted