You’re Mine by Penny Brooks novel Chapter 119

Chapter 119

Harper

“Mom— '

“No. '

She puts her hand in the air. “I need a second. '

She’s not supposed to be home. No one is. Ryan is at Sadie’s and my parents are always at work at this hour. Mom never gets home at this time, so I don’t know what she’s doing here. But that’s not the point anymore. The point is, she saw us under the tree with Easton's face between my legs. And I’m mortified. I seriously want to die. “Explain yourself, Harper. What would make you think it’s appropriate to bring a boy into our home and have him do—that—under the family Christmas tree? Or THAT in general. '

Her hand goes to her forehead, like she has a migraine. “Are you having sex? Are we about to have that kind of talk? '

She swallows, her knuckles turning white. “I didn’t know you were even getting close to, to, to what I just witnessed. You've said nothing to us about dating or boys or—sex. '

This conversation would be easier if I could ease into it. Bring up the idea of a boyfriend, mention that we're getting closer, and then revisit it after several months. Guess that opportunity is long gone. “Mom, Easton and I are together. As in, we're dating. As in, we’re a serious couple. '

“Why am I just finding out about this? '

I don’t know what to say. I didn’t even think to mention him to my parents. Maybe it’s because, for the longest time, my brother wanted to murder Easton. And then we went from hiding to being totally open and somehow the concept of sharing the news just got lost. Plus, it was nice, not having to explain myself when Easton was around all the time. They just assumed he was here for Ryan. Not me. “I... don't know, '

I tell her. “Harper, I let you go to Easton's lake house for the weekend, I had you stay there an extra night because of the storm. And that whole time, I had no idea you two were—are—intimate. '

Her eyes widen. “How could you do that to me? How could you be so dishonest with me? '

“It wasn't intentional. I didn’t do it to upset you. '

‘You've always been the most honest, loyal, forthcoming girl—it's your brother who keeps everything locked up like a vault. And now I have to find out like this? Does Ryan know you're dating his best friend or is that another fire I have to prepare myself for? '

I swallow. “He knows. '

“Of course. I’m the last to find out, makes perfect sense. '

“I- '

“Disappointed doesn’t even begin to cover it, Harper. I’ve always trusted you to make mature decisions, I've given you the freedom to do so, and this is how you treat that freedom? With this much disrespect? '

“Mom... '

I reach for her hand, knowing I have to make this better. “What happened today was wrong, I shouldn’t have done that. You definitely shouldn't have walked in on it, but you need to know I'm being careful. Easton and I—we're both being careful. I've waited a long time to do this, I wanted to make sure it was with the right person. '

I nod. “And it is. '

I take a breath, fibbing just a little when I add, “He's been so incredible to me—from day one. '

“Wait ... are you telling me .. '

She pauses, her chest heaving as she takes a massive breath. “You're on birth control? '

“Don’t you remember when I went to the doctor last year because my cramps were so bad, and she put me on the pill to help make them better? You came to the appointment with me, Mom. '

“Jesus. '

She grabs her chest, pushing against it. “I didn’t even think about it because in the same appointment, you told the doctor you weren't sexually active. '

“And I wasn't—then. '

She continues to stare at me, my stomach in knots. “But now you're using birth control, so you won't get pregnant. '

Disappointment is dripping from her voice. It’s killing me. “Mom, I'm a senior in high school, I’m almost eighteen— '

“And I'm still your mother, something you're obviously forgetting. '

She shakes her head. “I knew this was coming one day, I’m not naive. But to find out like this? '

Her face drops, her stare now on the floor. “I think I need another minute. '

She gets up from the couch, pacing the living room. Every time she looks up at the tree, she turns, and heads in the opposite direction. When she finally stops in front of me, she holds out her hand. “Give me your phone. '

“Mom— '

“Your phone. Now. '

“Because I’m having sex? '

She threatened to take it when Easton was here, but I didn’t think she was serious. I thought I could make this better if I explained everything. And now ... it’s worse? ‘This is my house, my floor that I found you on”— she grabs the phone from my hand—“and your father and I pay for this phone line. Until you buy your own phone and pay for service, then I'll take it away whenever I damn well please. '

She points to the stairs. “I want you to go to your room right now and I want you to think about respect and what that exactly means and the lack of respect that you showed this family today. '

She shoves the phone into her back pocket. “I also want you to think about how wrong you were by not telling me about you and Easton—how allowing that boy upstairs, allowing you to stay at his lake house is an entirely different situation now that I know he's sleeping with my daughter. '

Her hand is back on her chest, holding it like her heart is about to fall out. My arms wrap around my stomach. “I’m sorry. '

“I don’t want to hear it. '

She points to the stairs. “Go. '

I feel the tears start to pool the minute I stand and hurry for the stairs, rushing up the long flignt and running into my room, shutting the door behind me. No phone. No trust—it's gone as far as my mom is concerned and the minute she tells Dad, it'll be gone with him, too. I feel sick. I look at my bed and almost throw myself on it, burying my face under a pillow to scream, when the sight of my laptop catches my attention. I sit at my desk and click the screen alive, pulling up my email and typing a message to Easton. Me: I'm so sorry Mom barked at you, ugh, she’s so pissed. She took my phone, and this is the only way I can communicate. FML. I can’t believe she came home. I mean, talk about bad timing, right? I get up to go to bed when a message almost immediately comes into my inbox. Easton: Are you okay? Me: Yes. No. I don’t know. She’s really mad, I know she’s going to tell my dad. Maybe I should have told them about you ... I stare at my inbox, waiting for him to respond. Several minutes pass and there's still nothing from him. I go to my bed, looking back at the screen every few seconds to see if a message comes in. But nothing. Not even after the most awkward family dinner ever. Not even when I climb into bed to go to sleep. Not even when I wake up the next morning for school after the most restless night ever. Is Easton ... mad? But what did I do wrong?