You’re Mine by Penny Brooks novel Chapter 108

Chapter 108

Easton

“Storms suck ballllssssss. '

Ryan kicks a piece of firewood.

“How do you only have like two days worth of firewood and zero storm gear in this place? '

I shrug.

“No idea, I'm not exactly a cub scout, then again”— I turn to Blake—“Anything you'd like to add to this Mr.

I[-have—at—least—seventeen— survival—patches. '

Blake flips me off.

“l was nine and you're a dick. '

I burst out laughing.

Damn, sometimes I miss him, and then I remember Aisha sucking my dick sophomore year and I get all better.

“Well ... '

I look around the shed.

“I think other than the blankets, junk food, and the rest of the firewood this is as good as it’s going to get. '

“Yeah, '

Ryan agrees.

“At least it’s not too cold yet at night and we won't starve. '

“And we do have girls to spoon, '

Blake points out.

I immediately want to be like my girl, my spoon, go fork somewhere else, then remember he has Aisha and feel my balls actually tremble.

“About that. '

“What? '

Blake looks genuinely relaxed when I'd be making SOS signals in order to escape being alone with her.

“Are you guys like... '

I make a gesture with my hands that makes zero sense, then finally just say, “Fucking.

Are you fucking? '

Blake doesn't even blink.

“Would that bother you? '

“No! '

I pretty much yell.

“Not at all, you do you, man.

['m just curious because you brought her up here and people don't typically bring others up here to talk about feelings and knit. '

“How would you know? I knit a damn good sweater. '

Blake crosses his arms.

“He knits? '

Ryan asks.

“He does, '

Blake answers with a grin.

“But, for your information, we're just friends.

I’ve been reaching out to her lately, you know, it’s the anniversary of her brother's death tomorrow and it just seemed like the right thing to do. '

My stomach drops.

How could I forget Deacon? I never could.

Never would.

That night.

The way he looked at me like I’d betrayed him.

And the way he drove off in pain.

And never came back.

“Yeah, Deacon was a good guy, '

I find myself saying, hiding my secrets, my past, digging deeper into the mud, and praying that nobody sees the dirt under my nails.

“Didn't you know him pretty well? '

Ryan asks.

I shrug.

“Yeah, I mean, I knew a lot of the guys from other schools, especially the football teams, but I wouldn't call us close. '

“Huh. '

Blake smirks.

“That's funny. '

“What is? '

I try to keep my tone even.

“Nothing. '

He smiles.

“Don’t worry about it, I’m just thankful you let us crash here tonight, so we don't repeat history and all that. '

“History? '

Ryan scratches his head.

“Oh wait, didn’t a huge storm hit? '

‘Yup. '

Blake locks eyes with me.

“The biggest storm to hit the family, I'm surprised more people weren't hurt. '

My nostrils flare.

“Storms happen. '

“Yeah. '

Blake grabs one of the blankets and grips it in his hands.

“Sometimes, they do.

It's about how you handle them in the moment though that defines everything. '

“We still, um, talking about lightning? '

Ryan asks.

“Yes, '