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

playing music and it's

platters of food from a local Mexican restaurant and

giant smiles on their faces and I can't stop staring

shorts

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

catches me staring and flashes one of

sip from my beer, my gaze never

sister, don't you?" I glance

than anything else in this

takes a sip from

cant believe you gave

like it was

Ryan rolls his eyes.

"Your parents cool with you changing your plan?" “It was

always

never asked me once what I wanted

assumed I would follow

figured I'd do the same,’ I

a step closer to me, his voice

for Harper?" It started the end

eight years of my life going to

father

like a

to disappoint my father or cause a fight, so I kept my mouth

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

reason, the idea

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

she helped make the decision easier for

to fight for what I want, and stand

God my parents didn't give me

Eventually"

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

room to talk, considering you're going to the

State only because she knew I wanted to go there.” Ryan shakes his