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.

the people I was most worried about— Mom and Dad—didn't kill me over

Sure, they wanted Stanford.

they're a bit

even hooking me up with something huge for my first

her face

what has me smiling as I take some

photoshoot is over, my parents approach me just

you, honey,”

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

where I bring up

secret is going to my

I got the grades

over UCLA’ She adjusts my tie as my father says, "Are you sure I can't convince you to

his phone and shakes it

it'll take and I can tell

know this is

doesn't stop until he

and his eyes tell me

with where I'm going.” He

“I understand, son.

tell them, and I

we line up, I find Harper in

give her this gift and knowing we're not anywhere near each other in line,

hair is down and curled and her lips are glossy,

she's wearing underneath, but she

she whispers, clasping her

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

nervous.” “Nervous?

She shrugs.

just a huge deal 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

“I know ...

make you feel better.” I

as she looks

a gift? But

“It's not like that.

lifts the flap of the hack wrapping job I'd done and pulls the rest of the

takes out the key

parents rented me an apartment