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

Sure, they wanted Stanford.

they're a bit salty about

with something huge for my first year there—something I haven't told Harper

can't wait to see her face when I tell her the

smiling as I take

over, my parents approach me just

you, honey,” my

incredibly hard this year and your grades couldn't

where I bring up Leigh and her help with

secret is going to my

together and I got the grades I needed to and

with my decision over UCLA’ She adjusts my tie as my father says,

phone and shakes it

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

I know this is the lawyer in

stop until he

he's not going to win this and his eyes tell me he's accepting that

happy with where

“I understand, son.

at graduation,” I tell them, and I

to the auditorium, minutes before we

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

her lips are glossy, just like I

she's wearing underneath,

whispers, clasping her

was hoping you'd come find me before we

nervous.”

She shrugs.

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

about it, it's gonna go

“I know ...

wreck.” "Maybe this'll make you feel better.” I place the small

eyes widen as she looks

a gift? But

“It's not like that.

and pulls the

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

rented me an