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,

Hmm.

wonder if that's

all sorts of people start

starts playing music and it's fucking

girls brought giant platters of food from a

music with giant smiles on their faces and I can't

short denim shorts and the tight

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

of those shy smiles that make

my gaze never leaving her even when I feel

my sister, don't you?" I glance over at Ryan who's

else

takes a sip from

cant believe you gave

was a

Ryan rolls his eyes.

school.” "Your parents cool with you changing your plan?"

was always

me once what

would follow in his

life, I figured I'd

closer to me,

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

or eight years of

my father and eventually take over the

sounded like

father or cause a fight, so I

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 family tradition

do whatever the fuck I want, but for whatever reason, the idea

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

the decision easier for

for what I want, and

give me too

Eventually"

tips his head

to talk, considering you're going

applied to Chico State only because she knew I wanted to