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 that's

after they arrive, all sorts of people

playing music and it's

brought giant platters of food from a

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

tonight in those short denim shorts and

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

one of

my gaze never leaving her even when

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

than anything else in

sip from

believe you gave up

like it was a hardship,”

Ryan rolls his eyes.

excellent school.” "Your parents cool with

was always

me once what I wanted to

just assumed I would follow in

I figured I'd do the

closer

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

seven or eight years of

my father and eventually take over

like

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

my father sitting right beside me, going on and on about

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

of your sister,” I finally answer, my gaze still

the

gave me the strength to fight for what I want,

give me too much shit over

Eventually"

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

going to the same college as Sadie,’ I remind

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