You’re Mine by Penny Brooks
Chapter 67

Chapter 67

Harper

I throw open the door to replace Sadie standing on my doorstep. Sherushes in without a word, pulling me into a hug before I can even shutthe door.

“I came right over,” she murmurs, giving me a squeeze. “You soundedso stressed out.”

I called her maybe ten minutes ago? The moment Easton dropped meoff I was on the phone, needing my best friend.

“At least someone cares,” I retort once we pull away from each other.Sadie’s frowning. “What are you talking about?”

I explain to her how Easton and I ditched school and were spending therest of the day together-1 don't go into too much detail about the hottub incident-then my brother calls and Easton drops everything to goto him.

“And he didn't even take me with him,” I say, crossing my arms.“Hmm, that's not normal.” Sadie taps her index finger against her lips. “Ithought they were still mad at each other?”

“So did I! I don't get it.” I decide to express my deepest, darkest fear. “Imean, I'm glad they're not so angry at each other anymore, but I alsofeel like I'm always going to come in dead last in Easton's life.”

And that hurts to admit, even if it's just to Sadie, who would never tell asoul.

“No. No way.” My best friend's smile is gentle. “Easton seems really intoyou.”

“Until my brother calls him and he rushes off without telling me what'sgoing on,” I say bitterly. “It makes no sense.”

Sadie whips her phone out. I'll call Ryan and ask him what's going on. Ibet he'll tell me.”

I lift a brow but say nothing. My brother is more closed-lipped thanEastort and that's

saying a lot. Ryan doesn't tell me anything about his life, especially notlately. I barely know what's going on between him and Sadie.

Neither of them is talking to me about it, and I've been so wrapped upin my own bullshit that I haven't asked them either. I need to though.

I need to be a better friend.

Sadie presses her phone against her ear and I can hear ringing. Thegruff sound of my brother's voice when he snaps at her, “What?”

Nice greeting. No hello or hey Sadie.

“Hi.” Sadie sends me an unsure look before she says, “What are youdoing right now? Want to get together?”

Ryan's so loud, I can hear every word he's saying. “I'm busy. Can I callyou later?”

Before she can respond yes or no, he ends the call

Sadie pulls the phone away from her face, frowning at the screen.“What the hell?”

“I guess he's being just as elusive as my boyfriend.”

A little thrill moves through me at saying the word boyfriend, despitemy frustration with Easton.

“Maybe they're going to take out Aisha. Together.” Sadie smiles, andthere's an evil gleam in her eye.

We both suspect Aisha is the one who wrote whore on our garagedoor. It just makes the most sense. She must've faked being out oftown so she could do it.

That girl hates me with everything she’s got, and I feel the same wayabout her.

God, she's the worst.

“She cornered me in the hallway earlier,” I admit.

Sadie’s gaze narrows. “What did that bitch say to you now?”

“Awful things about Easton. Trying to allude they're somehow stillhooking up.”

“Impossible.”

Is it though? She knew things she shouldn't. I want to trust Easton andthat he wouldn't commit to me while keeping Aisha on the side but..He makes it so damn difficult sometimes.

“She also accused me of being a boring virgin,” I admit.

“I hate her so damn much.” Sadie shakes her head. “She's awful.”

“I know. But how would she know I was a virgin? That part bothers methe most. To the point I had to ask Easton if he told her.”

Sadie gapes at me. “What did he say?”

“He denied it, of course.” I wrap my arms around myself, running myhands up and down my suddenly cold arms. “I want to believe him...”Sadie makes a scoffing noise. “Oh come on, Harper. He would never tellher that.”

“Then how did she know?”

"Girl, it was pretty obvious. You keep to yourself for the most part.Rarely, if ever, talk to boys at school. You've never had a boyfriend.Never really been seen on campus with

any boys at all, until recently. And,”

"Okay, okay, I see where you're coming from.” I'm vaguely irritated bymy best friend pointing out all the reasons Aisha could assume I was avirgin, but deep down, I know Sadie’s right.

It was definitely obvious.

“She took a guess, and she was right.” Sadie makes a disgusted face.“Still isn't cool she said all that shit to you though. God, I hate her.”“Me too,” I agree. “I'm positive she’s the one who did that to my garagedoor.”

“What are you going to do? Were your parents super pissed? Did theycall the cops?”

I sigh. “They wanted to, but Ryan convinced them they shouldn't. Hepromised he'd replace out who did it, and put it on some jealous girls fromschool.”

“Ryan's not wrong.”

“I don't understand why Aisha hates me so much.” I collapse on thecouch, watching as my friend settles on the loveseat across from me.“What did I ever do to her?”

“Steal her man.”

“I don't think Easton was ever her man in the first place.” I scowl,thinking of her mentioning the scar on his...private parts. It sucks thatshe knows about it, because it means she’s been up close and personalwith Easton's junk.

I can't stand the thought, so I shove it out of my brain.

“We need to get her back,” I say, clutching my hands into fists. “I needto get revenge on Aisha.”

“You sure you want to do that?”

glance up when I hear the caution in Sadie’s voice. “Why wouldn't 17She's made my life a living hell lately.”

“She can do worse damage. I don't know if I'd mess with her.” Sadie’sgaze is serious as she stares at me. “She’s as mean as a snake, Harper.And her bite is full of venom.”