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

arrive, all sorts

music and it's fucking

brought giant platters of food from a local

giant smiles on their faces and I can't

looks extra hot tonight in those short denim shorts and the tight shirt that shows off

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

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

sip from my beer, my gaze never leaving her

love my sister, don't you?" I glance over

anything else in this

a sip from

you gave up

it was

Ryan rolls his eyes.

with you changing your plan?" “It was

was always

never asked me once

would follow

my life, I figured I'd do the same,’

step closer

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

seven or eight years of my life going to

coming to work for my father and eventually take over

sounded like

want to disappoint my father or cause a fight,

applying to Stanford with my father sitting right beside me, going on and on about my chances and how I would be a

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

sister,” I finally answer, my gaze still on her as she

the decision

the strength to fight for what I want, and stand

thank God my parents didn't give me too much

Eventually"

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

going to the same college as Sadie,’

knew I