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.

most worried about— Mom and

Sure, they wanted Stanford.

bit salty about

first year there—something I

it, I can't wait to see her

what has me smiling as I take some

photoshoot is over, my parents approach me just as I'm getting ready

so proud of you, honey,” my mother says, kissing

worked so incredibly hard this year and your grades couldn't have

isn't the moment where I bring up Leigh and her

is

the grades

adjusts my tie as my father says, "Are you sure I can't convince

his phone and shakes it in his

it'll take and I can tell

this is the

stop

to win this and

with where I'm going.” He

“I understand, son.

I tell them, and I say good—bye to the rest of my

the auditorium, minutes before we line up, I

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

hair is down and curled and her lips are

sure what she's wearing underneath, but she looks gorgeous

clasping her hands

was hoping you'd come find me before we walk across the stage.” She takes

so nervous.” “Nervous?

She shrugs.

and my family is here and it feels like the whole world is watching and—you know, all the things.” I give

worry about it, it's gonna go

“I know ...

feel better.” I place the small box on her

as she looks

me a gift? But I didn't get you

“It's not like that.

it.” She lifts the flap of the hack wrapping job I'd done and pulls the rest of the paper off, slowly opening

takes out the key and holds it

rented me an apartment