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 that's

after they arrive, all sorts of people start to

starts playing music and

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

to the music with giant smiles on

tonight in those short denim shorts and

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

one of those shy smiles

beer, my gaze never leaving her even when I

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

else in this

sip from his

believe you gave

like it was

Ryan rolls his eyes.

with you changing

always my

me once

just assumed I would follow

most of my life, I figured I'd do

a step closer

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

imagine spending the next seven or eight years of my life going to college and law

father and eventually

like a

want to disappoint my father or cause a fight,

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

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

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

the decision

what

didn't give me too much

Eventually"

Ryan tips his head back, draining

considering you're going

knew I wanted to go there.” Ryan