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,

Hmm.

if that's

after they arrive, all sorts of people start to

music and

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

Sadie are hanging out, dancing to the music with giant smiles on their faces and I can't stop staring at

shorts and the tight shirt

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

of those shy smiles that make my

take a sip from my beer, my gaze never leaving her even when I feel someone

don't you?" I glance over

else

sip from

cant believe you gave up Stanford

it was

Ryan rolls his eyes.

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

was always my

me once what I wanted to

would follow in

my life, I figured I'd do the same,’

closer to me, his

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

spending the next seven or eight years of my life going

to work for my father and eventually take over the

like a

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

idea of disappointing my parents about my

finally answer, my gaze still on her as she

make the decision easier for

what I want, and stand up to my

thank God my parents didn't give me too much

Eventually"

head back, draining the last of

have no room to talk, considering you're going to the same

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