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 people start to

starts playing music and it's fucking

brought giant platters of food from a

to the music with giant smiles on their faces

hot tonight in those short denim shorts and the tight

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

me staring and flashes one of those shy smiles that make

my beer, my gaze never leaving

you?" I glance over at Ryan who's

anything else

a sip from his

believe you gave up Stanford for

like it was a hardship,” I

Ryan rolls his eyes.

"Your parents cool with you

was always my

asked me once what I wanted

just assumed I would

figured I'd do the same,’

closer to me,

for Harper?" It started the end of my junior year—the realization that law school didn't interest me at

imagine spending the next seven or eight years of my life going

my father and eventually take over

like a

want to disappoint my father or

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

for whatever reason, the idea of disappointing my parents about my

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

helped make the decision easier for

to fight for what I want,

God my parents didn't give me too much shit over

Eventually"

Ryan tips his head back,

talk, considering you're going to the same

to Chico State only because she knew I wanted to go