You’re Mine by Penny Brooks novel Chapter 129

 

Chapter 129

Harper

I'm in a shit mood for the rest of the day, barely able to concentrate on my final exams, which freaks me out. Yeah, just add another thing to my freak out list.

Like the fact that someone is still writing shitty messages about me at school.

That I think I've skipped my period—what the hell?

That I feel like shit still thanks to lack of sleep and everything else that's going on. I'm so over this year.

I swear the minute it's winter break, I'm going straight home and falling into bed. Maybe I'll sleep my way through the rest of the year, I don't know.

All I know is, I need some down time. Some drama free time too.

Don't know if that last one is possible, but a girl can dream.

We're out of school earlier than normal thanks to our finals schedule and I'm heading for the parking lot when I hear a deep male voice say my name. I turn to find Easton behind me, his gaze lifting at the last second, like he might've been checking out my butt. Knowing him, he probably was.

“What are you doing?"

I ask, trying to go for a flirty tone. He smiles, but his eyes are full of concern. For me. "Waiting for you. Want to come over to my place?"

I press my lips together, wishing I could say yes. "I should probably go straight home with Ryan. My parents are still unhappy with me thanks to the tree—"

Easton holds up both hands, silencing me. "Yeah, yeah. The tree incident. Don't say anything else."

My cheeks grow warm. It's still a touchy subject in my house, which is no surprise. “I wish I could go home with you.”

“Why can't you?"

he asks, his voice soft. "Where are your Parents?"

“At work."

“And how are they going to know where you're at?"

“Find my phone. She's checking."

I pause for dramatic flair. “Constantly.”

“I fucking hate that shit,"

he mutters, shaking his head. "Let me take you home then.”

“What do you mean?"

I frown. “Instead of riding home with Ryan, I'll drive you home. They won't check on you right away, will they?

We can tell Ryan to go somewhere else and make it look like you got a ride with... I don't know. Sadie maybe?”

"She'll be with Ryan.”

Harper rolls her eyes, but I can tell she's into the idea. “Just—let me take you home. We need a little one on one time."

He smiles, and I swear his eyes are glowing. "Let me help you forget all your troubles for a little bit.”

I raise my brows. "What's that supposed to mean?"

He flat out grins. “You'll see.”

Once we convince Ryan and Sadie to go somewhere else for a while, I climb into Easton's Jeep and he heads for our house.

He takes the long way, driving slow, which is incredibly unlike him, my hand in his and resting on his thigh as he cranks up the stereo once I plug in my favorite playlist.

Taylor Swift is blasting at full volume and I'm singing at the top of my lungs along with her song, throwing my head back and losing myself in the lyrics.

Her songs remind me of some sort of teen dream movie, and once I got involved with Easton, I felt like I was actually living one.

While it's been great, and I've had a good time with Easton, it's also been really hard. Maybe loving someone isn't supposed to be easy. The challenges only make us stronger, right?

That's what I tell myself.

By the time we're pulling into my driveway, I've stopped singing along with Taylor and Easton has turned down the volume.

He puts the Jeep in park, but doesn't shut off the engine. Instead, he turns toward me, his gaze warm as he studies me. “How did that feel?"

I frown. "How did what feel?"

“Taking the long way home and singing along with Taylor?

Seemed therapeutic.”

I realize that it was. My shoulders are relaxed. And I didn't think about finals or my future or Aisha and spray paint once. “It actually was."

He smiles, leaning back in his seat. "Good. That's all I want."

"What do you mean?"

I ask, though I'm pretty sure I know what he's saying. I just want to hear him actually say it. "I hate seeing you miserable and feeling like I can't do anything about it. I hate that people attack you when they don't even know you. Because if they knew you, they'd realize how great you are. You're sweet and thoughtful and kind. You're funny and sexy and while I know you didn't like what was written on the bathroom mirror, I have to admit something,”

he says. I brace myself. "What?"

“You really do seem to love sucking my—big dick.”

He bursts out laughing and while I know I should be really, really angry about that, I'm laughing too.

“Come here,’ he murmurs once our laughter has calmed and I go to him, letting him kiss me until my head is spinning and I swear I see stars behind my closed lids.

His lips and tongue work some sort of magic over me and by the time he's pulling away, I can only sit there and stare at him in a stupor.

“There's my girl."

He reaches out and cups my cheek. I lean into his touch, wanting more. Wanting everything he could possibly give me. "Okay. I'll see you tomorrow.”

He drops his hand and I blink at him repeatedly. “That's it. That's all we're going to do?"

“Well yeah. I didn't drive you home so I could fuck you real quick in the backseat. I was just trying to do something nice for you. Help you forget your troubles and stress for a little while.”

I stare at him, overwhelmed with love for this boy. Man. My man. "Thank you,’ I whisper, fighting tears. "I love you."

“Llove you too."

His smile is soft. "I wish I could do more for you.”

“You've done enough,"

I reassure him, leaning in for another quick kiss. "This was perfect."

“You're perfect,”

he says, just before he kisses me again.