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.

wonder if

arrive, all sorts of people start to

playing music and it's

girls brought giant platters of food from a

and Sadie are hanging out, dancing to the music with giant smiles on their faces and I can't stop staring at my

denim shorts and the tight shirt that shows off

face and she keeps batting it away, laughing

me staring and flashes one of those

a sip from my beer, my gaze never leaving her

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

than anything else in

a sip from his

you gave up

like it was a

Ryan rolls his eyes.

cool with you changing your

always

once what I wanted to

just assumed I would follow

figured

closer to

Harper?" It started the end of

years of my life

for my father and

sounded like

I didn't want to disappoint my father or cause

me, going on and on about my chances and how I would be a legacy, carrying the family tradition

reason, the idea of disappointing my parents about my future choices—specifically my father

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

she helped make the

gave me the strength to fight for what I

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

Eventually"

whipped.” Ryan tips his head back,

room to talk, considering you're going to the same college

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