You’re Mine by Penny Brooks
Chapter 26

Chapter 26

Harper

I can't believe my idiot brother said that in front of Easton, or thatEaston took it for that matter.

My cheeks burn with embarrassment, because he’s not wrong is he?That's exactly Easton's MO and yet here I stand, right next to him,suddenly accepting his help along with a ride home when anyone whoknows us or knows him, would replace it suspicious.

Clearly Ryan's pissed and I know it's because he's being protectivewhich just makes me even more nervous over the fact that a fewminutes ago Easton had his tongue in my mouth.

And I didn’t push him away.

I pulled him closer

And accepted his help despite his asshole tendencies.

“Let's go,” Easton gently grabs my arm and pulls me towards his car. Ihave no other option but to follow him especially since my punk assbrother aka my normal ride is currently trying to replace a tampon sinceit's clearly his time of the month.

Ugh.

Boys.

I tuck my hair behind my ears, keep my head down, and follow Eastonout into the parking lot. I know people are watching us. I can feel theirstares burning through my back as me and Easton for the first time,like, ever, get in his Jeep without my brother.

I've always loved his Jeep, I've had several fantasies where he stops bymy house, picks me up, and asks to see me, not my brother-me. I neverimagined that this would be how senior year would go, and my head isgoing to explode if any other surprises happen today-or if Eastonattempts to kiss me again.

“Get in.” Easton opens the white door and it feels like he's letting meinto his life despite my brother being a crazy idiot.

I'm getting in

And it's not Ryan who's helping me but Easton.

The boy who kisses me one minute, then looks ready to trip me thenext.

I gulp and crawl up into the seat, then put on my seatbelt.

It smells like coffee and spearmint gum which just reminds of the wayhe tastes and how much Ryan will lose his shit if he replaces out.

I don’t have time to be nervous, soon enough Easton's in the Jeep, andit's roaring to life as he backs up out of his parking spot, wordless, jawclenched, looking beautiful and pissed at the same

time.

I glance out the window and frown as Blake watches us from theparking lot, his expression unreadable.

What's he staring at?

The Jeep?

Me?

Or is he just curious like everyone else at our school?

Ugh what a crappy day. If it wasn't Easton, who did it? Who has thatmuch time on their hands in the first place? Embarrassment hits me fastand hard as I remember how everything fell out of my locker and howeveryone saw.

Andddd I still have seven months of the school year left, which meansthis could happen again and again unless we figure out who did it“You hungry?” Easton asks once we're on the street.

"Huh? What?” I frown.

His smile is more of a smirk, devastating as he bites down on thebottom of his lip before taking a right towards downtown. “It's a simplequestion.”

“I don't know if I can eat right now.” I sigh. “I want to just *

My voice trails off.

I feel anxious.

Off balance.

Everything seems so out of focus right now that it's hard to breathe, it'shard to even inhale because with every single breath I smell him, I feelhim, and I want him.

And I shouldn't.

My brother would kill both of us.

Plus he’s an asshole, both my brother and Easton and yet I can't stopthe way my heart races every single time I glance over at him.

Easton curses under his breath and turns on the music. Great my notbeing hungry somehow pissed him off. How could I ever think that thiscould be anything but madness between us?

He passes my street. “What are you doing?”

“You're shaking.”

“Am 1?" I looked down at my hands, he’s right, I had no idea. Is that whyhe asked if I was hungry? I'm still staring at my shaking hands and myblack chipped nail polish when the Jeep turns off and he turns to faceme, seatbelt off.

“Who hates you?” His question catches me off guard.

“You mean other than you?” I look around. We're not at my house,we're also not at a fast food restaurant.

We're at his house.

In his driveway

I stare up at the giant home.

Where everything came crumbling down, where he upped hismeanness past what had been normal in the past..

“I don't hate you.” He says it quietly and then he’s opening his door andslamming it like his actions can't help but show annoyance and hatedespite what words are tumbling out of his mouth.

Was he really not taking me home?

Without any other choices, I get out of the Jeep and follow him inside,rolling my eyes because he doesn’t even turn around to see if I'mfollowing, he just assumes that any girl with eyes and a pulse woulddumbly jump off a cliff for him if he asked.

I hate that I don't even hesitate as I go through the front door andcontinue to follow him into his massive kitchen.

I don't ask if his parents are home-I assume they rarely are from whatRyan's said in the past.

It looks different without everyone partying.

Emptier.

Sadder.

“It was probably one of the girls -" He pulls out a bar stool and hopsonto the white granite countertop. “Bitches be crazy.

I crack a smile. “Did you really just say bitches be crazy?”

“Made you laugh.” He winks

“You're an idiot.”

“Thank you.” He presses a hand to his chest and stares at me, it's thesort of stare I always wanted from him, it's also terrifying. I don’t havetime to dissect it, just like I don't have time to manage my feelings ashe crooks his finger towards me.

I obey

I hate myself and him in that moment.

I hate my weakness.

I stop walking when I'm between his legs pressed up against thecounter, he cups my face with both hands, his thumb brushes my toplip. “He was right you know.”

“W-who?"

“Ryan.” His eyes flash. “I don't date. I fuck.”

I flinch. “Oh.”

“You've had a bad day. I've had a bad day...since someone

accused me of being a sociopath..” He continues rubbing my lower lipand then he dips his thumb inside. I bite down,

His eyes flair to life. “Harder.”

So I bite harder, I bite into his skin, I inflict pain and realize that hisbody's confusing it with pleasure.

“You're not leaving untill make you feel better.” His voice is low, almosta growl before his mouth descends.

And I'm lost again to my enemy.

My brother's best friend.

His taste.

My downfall.