You’re Mine by Penny Brooks novel Chapter 136

Chapter 136
Harper
"That was fucking brutal,"

Easton says as we collapse onto the couch in the living room, the dinner finally behind us.

"Like a root canal with no Novocain, performed by a first— year dental student, kind of pain."

I feel every word of that, deep in my soul.

“Easton ..."

I turn to him.

"My family is the worst.

If I knew it was going to be like that, I would have ..."

My voice fades as I think of what the alternative would have been.

"I don't know what I would have done, but I'm sorry."

I lean toward him, needing to feel his arms around me, his lips on mine and the moment I get within a few inches, he puts his hand on my chest, keeping me from coming any closer.

"Not under this roof, remember?"

I roll my eyes.

"They're in the kitchen, they can't see anything that's happening out here."

“What if your dad has laser vision or cameras or, I don't know, a sixth sense.

I'm not taking any fucking chances."

“Dude, Sadie and I banged in their bed a few days ago and he didn't notice.

You're giving my dad far too much credit,"

Ryan says from the recliner where Sadie is sitting on his lap.

"Gross."

I gag and look at Sadie.

"My parents’ bed?

Really?"

She shrugs.

“It's spacious."

“I'm not taking any chances,’ Easton says.

"From now on, we go to my house, yours is forever off limits."

Which makes me sad.

Our house was always somewhat off limits, a place no one wanted to come to since it's on the poor side of town.

But now that Ryan and Sadie are together and Easton and I are dating, our house has become much more popular.

And now that's going to change.

Because my parents are ridiculous.

Ugh.

"Well, we're here now,’ Sadie says, "so what do you guys feel like doing?

Watching a movie?

Playing a game?"

“Getting high, Easton says.

"I second that,’ Ryan adds.

"Third,"

I reply.

“Mom!"

Ryan yells.

"Dad!"

He stands from the chair, setting Sadie's feet on the floor.

"We're going to the gas station."

“All of you?"

Mom asks from the kitchen.

"Yep, we'll be back in ten."

"Drive safe,"

my father says.

It's literally amazing how much Ryan can get away with.

My brother runs upstairs to get his keys and weed, and we hurry out to the car, Easton climbing into the backseat with me.

“Drive,"

Easton says, keeping his eyes on the front door.

"Before your dad changes his mind."

Ryan laughs and hits the gas and Sadie lights up the joint, taking a hit before passing it to Easton.

"Dude, that was an hour of pure fucking torture,’ he exhales, smoke now filling the car.

I take the joint from him.

"My dad just doesn't know when to stop."

"I think it could have been worse,"

Sadie says.

"Your dad could have hung Easton by the balls, and he could have eaten dinner dangling over us like a chandelier."

“Fuck,’ Easton groans.

"No, thank you."

"See?"

Sadie says.

"Way worse."

Ryan keeps an eye on the time and the second we're done with the joint, he heads back to our neighborhood and parks in the driveway.

“Perfume,"

Sadie says, spraying all of us.

"Gum,"

she offers, taking out a pack from her purse.

I'm chewing a piece, laughing at Sadie's wobble as we walk back into our house, my parents sitting in the living room, watching some stupid show.

“Cupcakes,’ Ryan says, and we follow him into the kitchen.

“Jesus, I'm fucking starving."

He opens the box and digs right in, taking a bite before the baking cup is even off.

I pick up a chocolate strawberry flavored one and devour a bite of frosting, watching Easton do the same.

I'm just getting to the cake part when Mom appears in the kitchen.

“Just so we're clear—girls, you're sleeping in Harper's room.

Boys, you're on the couch."

"What about my room?"

Ryan asks.

Mom shakes her head.

"Which is across from Harper's room, not a chance."

She leaves and I look at Easton.

"It just keeps getting better and better."

I finish and lick the remainder of the cupcake off my fingers.

"I'm glad tonight was somewhat salvaged with this ..."

I go to lean in for a kiss and he stops me.

“Still nope"

I sigh and look at Sadie.

"I'm over this.

Let's go to bed."

She nods and kisses Ryan.

“Until the morning, lover?"

He grabs her ass.

"You know it."

I blow Easton an air kiss and Sadie and I hurry up the stairs, falling onto my bed the moment we get inside.

“L could eat seven more cupcakes,’ she groans, cuddling into my side.

"Same."

“It wasn't as bad as you think.

It really wasn't.

Maybe they're giving him shit because they really like him.

Ever think of that?"

It might be the weed, but what she's saying actually makes sense.

"You might be right."

“What's your mom making for breakfast?"

I laugh.

“I saw a bunch of bread on the counter, so I'm thinking French toast."

"Mmm."

“Go to bed, you endless pit of hunger,"

I giggle.

"Don't be surprised if I sneak downstairs soon for a snack."

“A Ryan snack or a snack—snack."

"Ohhh,"

she moans.

"I like your idea waaaay better."

"Go to bed,"

I repeat, and I close my eyes, the night replaying in my head.

I don't know when I fall asleep, but the sound of my phone wakes me.

It's not just the beep of a text message.

It's a notification explosion and I pat the bed, searching through the sheets and blanket until my phone is in my hand.

The brightness of the screen makes me squint through my sleepy eyes and I bolt up from bed the moment I come across a notification from WHGOSSIP.

WHGOSSIP: It's the start of winter break and what's more fun than some unexpected flurries?

Yes, friends, I have the storm you've all been waiting for, and it involves our favorite duo.

Just when we thought things were over between Easton and Mrs.

Scott, we come across this little frosty flake.

Hey, WHORE, do you think he was confessing his love ...

or giving her directions—to his cock?

My hands shake as I click on the notification and see the picture that loads.

One of Easton and Mrs.

Scott outside a gas station.

The two of them standing close.

Way too close.

His hand is reaching for her.

Her face is full of anguish, like missing him is eating her alive.

The timestamp shows the date and time.

Both I can't forget because Easton was supposed to be with me.

At the movies.

But he was running incredibly late.

And now I know why.

"I'm going to fucking kill him,"

I say to Sadie, who's still asleep.

“Huh?"

she grumbles.

"Who?"

I clutch my phone and haul ass downstairs where Easton and Ryan are passed out on the couch, my mom cooking in the kitchen.

"Get up,"

I seethe, hovering over Easton.

I wait for him to look at me, earning Ryan's stare too, and I hold my phone so he can see the screen.

"How the fuck are you going to explain this?”