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 show

music

of food from a local Mexican restaurant

are hanging out, dancing to the music with giant smiles on

extra hot tonight in those short denim shorts

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

me staring and flashes one of those shy smiles that make my dick

a sip from my beer, my gaze never leaving

don't you?" I glance over at Ryan

else in this

takes a sip from

gave

was a hardship,” I

Ryan rolls his eyes.

with you changing your plan?" “It was

always

once

just assumed I would

figured I'd do

step closer

me the truth—did you switch it up just for Harper?" It started the end of my junior year—the realization that law school didn't interest me at

the next seven or eight years of my life going

coming to work for my father and eventually take

like

want to disappoint my father or cause a fight, so I kept my mouth

I 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

idea of disappointing my parents about

I finally answer,

make the decision easier

what I want, and

my parents didn't give me too much shit

Eventually"

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

talk, considering you're going to the same

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