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 says

Hmm.

if that's

they arrive, all sorts of

starts playing music and it's

brought giant platters of food from a local Mexican restaurant and

dancing to the music with giant smiles on their faces and I

denim shorts and the

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

one of those shy smiles that make my

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

glance over at Ryan who's

else in

sip from his

you gave up Stanford

like it was a

Ryan rolls his eyes.

an excellent school.” "Your parents cool with you changing your plan?" “It was never

was always

me once

just assumed I would follow in

most of my life, I figured I'd do the

takes a step closer to me,

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

eight years of my life going to

for my father and eventually take over the

sounded like

my father or cause a fight,

know, I'm applying to Stanford with my father sitting right beside me, going on and on about my chances and how I would be a legacy, carrying the

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

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

the decision easier

to fight for what I want,

my parents didn't give me too much

Eventually"

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

considering you're going to the same college as Sadie,’

applied to Chico State only because she knew