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.

wonder if

sorts of people start to

playing music

brought giant platters of food from a local Mexican

music with giant smiles on their faces and I

hot tonight in those short denim shorts and

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

of those shy smiles that

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

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

else

takes a sip from

you gave up

like it was a

Ryan rolls his eyes.

"Your parents cool with you changing your

always my

me once what I

just assumed I would follow

life, I figured I'd

takes a step closer to me, his voice

Harper?" It started the end of my junior year—the realization that law school

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

my father and eventually

sounded like

want to disappoint my father or cause a fight, so

I'm applying to Stanford with my father sitting right beside me, going on and on about my

the idea of

UCLA only because of your sister,” I finally

make the decision easier for

strength to fight for what I want, and stand

didn't give me too much shit

Eventually"

his head back, draining the last of his

talk, considering you're going to the same college

because she knew I