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 kill me over

Sure, they wanted Stanford.

bit salty about

my first year there—something I haven't told Harper yet,

see her face

me smiling as I take some final pictures

over, my parents approach

honey,” my mother says,

so incredibly hard this year

the moment where I bring

is going

and I got the grades I needed to and that's all that

decision over UCLA’ She adjusts my tie

his phone and shakes

take and I can tell them you've changed your

know this is the lawyer in

stop until

and his eyes tell

happy with where I'm going.”

“I understand, son.

try one last time.” “I'll see you both at graduation,” I tell them, and I say good—bye to

we line up, I find

when I want to give her this gift and knowing

curled and her lips are glossy, just like I

wearing underneath, but she looks

clasping her hands with

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

so nervous.” “Nervous?

She shrugs.

family is here and it feels like the whole world is watching and—you know, all the things.” I give her a kiss, holding our faces together before I reach into my

worry about it, it's gonna go

“I know ...

make you feel better.” I place

eyes widen as

gift? But I didn't get you

“It's not like that.

wrapping job I'd done and pulls the rest of the paper

can see confusion on her face as she takes out the key

me an apartment