You’re Mine by Penny Brooks

Chapter 192

Easton

Me: Just a few more hours and we're graduated, dude, that's fucking crazy.

Harper: Right? These last few weeks have flown by.

It's what I wished for and now it's here and gah! Me: That graduation practice was a total joke today, but are you comfortable with it all, do you know what you're doing? Harper: Wait, you're asking ME if I know what I'M doing? I'm the one who was paying attention to where we're supposed to line up and all that.

You're the one who was high as hell with my brother, laughing non-stop.

Me: lol truth ...

I'm just always worried about you, baby.

Harper: I love you for that, but I'm all good.

I'll see you there very soon.

I smile at her last message and put my phone down.

Then, I take my black tie out of my closet and wrap it around my neck.

Once the knot is where I want it, I carefully place the graduation gown over me and I put the cap on my head.

I take a final look at myself in the mirror, knowing the minute I get downstairs, my family is going to want pictures.

They're all here—my brothers and their girls, aunts and uncles, everyone coming to the auditorium to watch me walk across the stage.

Being the youngest, I know this is a big deal for my parents, so that's why I don't lose my patience when I join them downstairs and pose in every fucking direction while they snap a million pictures of me.

And since some of my family hasn't seen me since I decided to go to UCLA, I accept the small digs they shoot in my direction for being the rebel of the family and not going to Stanford like the others.

Whatever, I can handle it.

In fact, bring it on.

I don't want to be like my brothers.

I don't want to get into law.

I want to be my own person and go my own direction and kick ass ina way that isn't expected of me.

was most worried about— Mom and Dad—didn't

Sure, they wanted Stanford.

bit salty about

and they’re even hooking me up with something huge for my first year there—something I haven't told Harper yet, but I'm going to surprise her with it

wait to see her face when

what has me smiling as I take some final pictures with

approach me just

so proud of you, honey,” my

year and your grades couldn't have made

bring up Leigh and her help with

secret is going to my

got the grades I

thanks for being cool with my decision over UCLA’ She adjusts my tie as my father says, "Are you sure I can't convince you to go to

phone and shakes it in his

all it'll take and I can tell them you've

this is

stop until

going to win this and his eyes tell me he's accepting

happy with where I'm going.”

“I understand, son.

both at graduation,” I tell them, and I say good—bye to

minutes before we line up, I find

about when I want to give her this gift and knowing we're not anywhere near each other in

her

not sure what she's wearing underneath, but she looks gorgeous in

clasping her hands with

come find me before we walk across the stage.” She takes a

so nervous.” “Nervous? Why,

She shrugs.

watching and—you know, all the things.” I give

about it, it's gonna

“I know ...

feel better.” I place the small

widen as

a gift? But I didn't get you anything

“It's not like that.

wrapping job I'd done and

confusion on her face as she takes out the key and holds it

parents rented me