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, Ryan

Hmm.

if that's

arrive, all sorts of people start to

music

couple of girls brought giant platters of food from a local Mexican restaurant

dancing to the music with giant smiles on their faces and I can't stop staring at my

denim shorts and the tight

keeps batting it away, laughing at whatever Sadie says

one of those shy smiles that make

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

glance over at

else in

a sip from

believe you gave up Stanford

it was

Ryan rolls his eyes.

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

always

asked me once what I

I would

my life, I figured

takes a step closer to

me the truth—did you switch it up just for Harper?" It started the end of my junior year—the realization that law school

seven or eight years of

work for my father and eventually

sounded like

my father or cause a fight,

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

usually do whatever the fuck I want, but for whatever reason, the idea of disappointing my parents about my future choices—specifically my father —freaked me

to UCLA only because of your sister,” I finally

she helped make the

gave me the strength to fight for what

give me too much

Eventually"

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

have no room to talk, considering you're going

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