You’re Mine by Penny Brooks
Chapter 41

Chapter 41

Harper

I rush into the bathroom and make sure that I don't have black mascararunning down my cheeks.

Aisha clearly has the worst timing.

And Easton clearly has no balls.

I mean, he does, duh, but I want to scream, why does everything haveto be so complicated and dramatic.

Islam my hands onto the sink. A stall door opens. Sadie takes one lookat my reflection in the mirror and the angry way I'm gripping the sinkand rushes over. “What happened?”

“Easton,” I say his name like a swear word. “He's just so hot and cold,and just SO..." I throw my hands up. “He's warning me away from Blakenow as if he has a right to. It's so stupid!”

“Hold up.” Sadie washes her hands and grabs a paper towel. “The mostpopular boy in school who was just making out with you in the librarywarned you away from the other popular guy he's always beencompeting against...did he say why?”

I frown. “Well, Blake talked to me this morning, and I did flirt, but itwasn't anything that Easton's never pulled with Aisha.” Maybe I wasbeing defensive, but I hated how much Easton saw-like he's fully awareof the power he holds over me and lives for my surrender, so yeah, if ahot guy's gonna flirt with me like Blake, right in front of the guy I reallylike who's driving me crazy, what do you think’s going to happen?

“Ah, double standards, gotta love em.” Sadie rolls her eyes. “Look, ifBlake is giving you attention, it's not a big deal. If Easton can’t handlethat, then he can just grow a bigger dick and learn how to pursue a girlwithout snapping his fingers.”

“Yeah.” I sniffle. “I guess.”

Do. Not. Think. About. His. Dick.

“Don't overthink it, plus we have a pep rally to go to, and you know Ilike it when the football team runs by in those tight pants.”

I laugh. “They aren't even that tight.”

“Tell that to DJ's dick. God, I love sports.”

I smile and then laugh. “You're such a horny slut. Quick, what's it calleda touchdown or a goal?.”

She doesn't even hesitate. “When DJ's running the ball, does it reallymatter?”

I laugh and roll my eyes, distracted and feeling just a bit better since myrun-in with Easton.

We link arms and walk out of the bathroom just in time for the firstwarning bell to ring for the pep rally.

“I gotta go grab a protein bar, plus I left all my stuff at the table.” I rushpast Sadie and go into the cafeteria to grab my bag and everythingelse.

I quickly dump my trash and grab a bar out of my bag.

Blake walls in through the double doors and smiles at me. “I was justcoming in to grab your stuff for you.” He tilts his head and I can't helpbut think he's so good looking. I don’t know why I never focused onhim before. Maybe because I knew he was always off-limits, and he'snever really flirted with me in a way that didn't make me want to kneehim in the balls? I swear his green eyes sparkle as he walks over to me.Jeans tight, short sleeve vintage shirt clinging to his body. “You okay?”I nod my head clinging to my backpack. “I will be.”

“Is this the part where you tell me what asses guys are or where youconfess it's that time of the month, and I should approach you whileholding chocolate out in front of me if I want to keep my sight?”

“Why would I blind you?” I laugh.

“I have sisters.” He shudders. “That was the most tame scenario I couldcome up with. So what is it?” He's so confident standing there watchingme. He isn't intense and he doesn't hover too close. It's almost like hewaits for me to come to him or to

react to him?

“Boys are all asses.” I finally blurt.

“Up top.” He holds out his hand for a high five. I hit it, grab my bag, andfollow him out of the cafeteria toward the gym.

I bypass my locker and keep my bag on me when Blake stops in histracks. “Shit, I think I left my phone. Save me a seat?”

“Yeah, sure.” I nod then start looking around for Sadie or Ryan as Imake my way toward the gym lobby.

I stop at the water fountain to fill up my leopard Swell bottle. By thetime I'm done, mostly everyone is in the gym, and I can hear the loudmusic pumping through the

sound system.

I smile to myself.

Ah, high school.

There's just something about music, everyone screaming and wearingschool colors that makes even the most negative emo kid wanna do alittle fist bump and yell. “Go, team!”

I turn to open the gym doors and see a cheerleading uniform out of thecorner of my eye. Of course, it's Aisha, and she looks pissed.

She catches my eye and then grabs at something or someone in thedark hallway leading to the locker rooms.

I immediately recognize Easton's shirt.

She clings to it and shoves him toward the wall, then leans up on hertiptoes, pulling his neck down with her free hand.

I lose it.

I completely and utterly lose it.

It's one thing to suspect.

It's another thing to have to watch it.

To stomach it while knowing he was just with me.

I can't do this.

I just can't.

My breath starts coming out in short spurts like I'm about tohyperventilate. I do a small circle, feeling slightly faint.

I have to get out of there.

All my brain can do is show me pictures of her leaning in and Eastonmeeting her mouth with his. What if they see me? Are they still kissing?How stupid can I be?

He warned me!

He doesn't care.

He never will

I feel like I'm going to be sick.

I turn on my heel, ready to run, when I see Blake walking toward me,holding out his phone. I don’t even think about it as I hear Aisha andEaston's voices behind me.

I grab Blake by the shirt once he's close enough and kiss the hell out ofhim. His lips part, and then he’s tugging me against him. He tastesdifferent than Easton, but damn, he’s a good kisser.

I don't know how long we

All I know is I hear the word slut.

Blake freezes.

I pull back to look over my shoulder. Aisha is standing there, her armscrossed, face red.

Easton's expression is one of pure rage as he looks between us, andeven though the kiss saved me from their confrontation and made mypride feel better for like two seconds...

Now all I feel.

Is sad.