You’re Mine by Penny Brooks
Chapter 77

Chapter 77

Harper

I feel him inside me, all around me, the way his muscles strain and tenselike he wants to stay in this moment, in the hot tub until the end oftime.

Instead, he pulls away from me like he's about to say goodbye.“Easton?” I cup his jaw. “What's going on?”

“That was unbelievable.” He still isn't looking at me, instead he’scompletely shut down, chest still heaving from exertion as he grabs thetowel next to the stairs, wipes his hands and picks up his phone.

What the hell?

What we shared wasn't just something-normal.

In fact nothing between has been normal since this started.

And now he's acting like every other teenage boy on the planet andgrabbing his cell phone the minute he gets off.

I'm so hurt I can't see straight.

Why can't it always be easy with him?

Why am I always doubting him?

Us?

What Aisha said about my circle of friends pounds into my skull untilmy temples start to ache. I never know if she’s playing with me or if sheactually has a brain cell next to her fake extensions.

Would they even be able to coexist anyways fighting for all that space?grab a towel and get out of the hot tub, irritated, and a bit pissed thatmy body feels so good after his kisses, after his touch.

"You okay?" Easton reaches for me.

I jerk away. “Yeah, fine.”

Which in girl speak basically means, you might die tonight, he seems tocatch on though and quickly flips his phone over so I can't see thescreen which just makes me more suspicious on top of everything else.He yawns and stretches his arms over his head, then grabs his owntowel while I put the top back on the hot tub.

A tense silence exists between us.

Tignore it and decide to just go inside the house when he grabs me bythe hand and pulls me back against him, he's warm just like the hot tuband I feel weak because I need him, because his touch tells me thateverythings going to be okay when everything feels so messed up.Maybe it's me.

I'm vulnerable.

And I blame him.

I love him.

I love this boy and I can't read him, because he won't open up to methe way I need and I'm scared that if I say something I'm going to pushhim away even more.

I slump against him.

“Hey,” Easton's lips are on my neck. “What's going on?”

“Things.” I shiver and hear his phone go off again and tense even more."Someones trying to get a hold of you.”

“Yeah but my hands are kind of busy right nowholding on to you.” Hechuckles against my neck, his lips on my skin, and I forget for a fewminutes how angry I am and how insecure I feel with him sometimes.

I relax as much as I can.

He holds me tighter. “You know I've never felt this way for anyone,Harper..."

Do I though?

“I know." I lie.

“It's not just.” He curses. “It's not just your body, Harp. It's everything.It's the way you fight me when you want to kiss me. It's your bravery.It's every single smile that kills my heart and steals my soul. Harper,you're it. You are. Even if you don't believe it, one day you will, becauseone day I'll be able to prove it. You're my everything and as much asyou probably hate me half the time, I'd take that hate any day, becauseit means I'm yours...and you're mine.” .

A tear slides down my cheek. “That was stupid romantic for a highschool boy.”

“I practiced,” he jokes, kissing my neck.

His phone goes off again.

With a curse, he pulls away. “Look, I have to take care of this reallyquick, trust me when I say it's not a big deal ..."

I turn around.

His face is pale as he reads his texts.

His movements jerky.

Something's off.

“Everything okay?" I ask.

He looks at his screen again and shoves his phone into his pocket.“Yeah, I'm just gonna run you home real quick then grab something bythe school, apparently in all my anger and excitement I left one of mynotebooks and one of the freshman who owes me a favor of massiveproportions picked it up...”

“Huh?” What freshman? What favor? I don't say anything else but Iwant to because it's so out of the blue and why wouldn't he have saidsomething sooner? Doubt starts creeping in again when it comes toEaston like it always does after we're vulnerable together.

He pulls me into his arms, his smile easy. “I'm spending the night. Imean, if that's okay?”

“And when my parents come barging in?”

“I'll be quiet ..." He laughs. He's so gorgeous I want to cry a bit, with hisdimples, dark hair, and crystal blue eyes. He's lean but built and evenwhen he’s not kissing me I dream of his tongue, of the way my fingersfeel against his firm stomach, his crazy six pack on display. “You're theloud one.”

I shove him, but also, I mean, what girl would be quiet with Eastonstanding in front of them? Eating them out? Fucking them? Lovingthem?

“What? It's true!” He laughs and looks at his phone again, what thehell? “It will literally take no time, plus I can drop you off first so yourparents don't get suspicious, perfect

plan.”

“Yeah.” I decide I have no choice but to trust him even thoughsomething doesn't feel right, I want him to communicate more but I'mafraid of being that needy girl so I simply

say. “Okay.”

“You mean everything to me.” He whispers, kissing my forehead. Hiseyes flicker then linger on mine for a few beats before he looks awayand laughs. “Don't fall asleep without me...”

“Like 1 could.” I pull him in for a hug.

I memorize the way he smells.

The way he feels.

It's right.

Everything about us is finally right, so why do I keep looking for all thewrong? It's not fair to him, or to our relationship.

Texhale.

He smells like hot boy, spice, and rum.

And he’s mine.

Right?

- “Hurry back,” I say as we both quickly get ready.

He slaps my ass. “Where else would I rather be than by your side,Harper?”

Good question.

I tell myself to trust him.

I tell myself to be the secure one.

And I force myself to smile the entire ride back to my house as if this iscompletely normal and everything's fine, and I almost believe it. Almost,I have nothing to worry about, right?

Because I'm his, and he's mine.

And why else would he make up a dumb excuse like a freshman kidholding his notebook? Easton's better than that.

I trust him.

I really have no choice.

My chest hurts as his Jeep pulls away from the curb in front of myhouse and I don’t know why but it feels wrong.