You’re Mine by Penny Brooks novel Chapter 17

Chapter 17 

Harper 

I don‘t know how long I stand outside after Ryan and Easton are gone. All I can do is breathe in and out, in and out, as I mentally replay 

HARTER 

“Don‘t waste your time, Ryan. A little costume doesn‘t hide the fact that it‘s Harper– it also can‘t hide the horrible personality either. Let‘s go shoot some hoops.” 

Maybe if we hadn‘t kissed twice or if he hadn‘t touched me and made me feel the things he did. But, the truth was, even with the costume, 

even with the darkness, that was all me, Harper, the same Harper that Easton just said couldn‘t hide. 

It‘s like he knew exactly what to say and how to say it to make me want to cry until all the tears made my heart feel better. 

“Hey.” The cafeteria doors slam behind Sadie. “What happened? Is Ryan super pissed? Do I need to go talk to him?” 

I remain quiet, not sure how to answer. 

“God, I‘m going to kill him! I refuse to crush on him anymore! You hear that, Ryan?” She starts yelling like he can actually hear her.  

“We‘re through, you little–” 

“Shhh.” I tug on her arm. “Can we just leave?” 

Her eyes widen in shock. “You want to cut class?” 

No, I want to cut Easton , then tell him how badly he‘s cut me, then kiss him and confess everything and wait for him to laugh until he cries. 

That sounds really fun. 

Why is high school the worst? 

I almost feel numb at this point as I shake my head. Somehow, my legs aren‘t taking me to my locker or to class – no, I‘m walking 

directly toward the gym where Ryan and Easton just went. 

What am I doing and what sort of entity has taken over my body and somehow convinced my brain that this is a good idea? 

Heart pounding, I shove open the gym doors. The smell of equipment and cleaner fill the air as the echoing sound of the basketball fills the empty space. 

Ryan and Easton are laughing while Sadie, just behind me, quietly tries to grab my arm and pull me away like she knows something‘s about to go down 

“It‘s fine.” I shrug her off. “T‘ll be quick.” 

I don‘t hear her groan as much as | feel it when I walk on to the court in my boots and wait for them to notice me. Ryan does first, his expression unreadable, and then there‘s Easton. Beautiful, gorgeous, godlike Easton, with his perfect hair, amazing kissing skills, strong jaw, and stupid lower lip! 

“Why are you such an asshole?” || blurt before I can stop myself, my heart pounding in my chest like I‘ve just done a hundred pushups. 

Easton drops the ball and crosses his arms, his crystal blue eyes laying into me with indignant fury. 

What? I don‘t have the right to have feelings? To stand up for myself? To once and for all face him, despite making me want to hurl when I realize I‘m currently sealing my own fate with him? 

Whatever future we may have had is going to be gone in a poof of smoke and even though I don‘t want to care, I do. 

“What did you just say?” His voice is low, his posture rigid. 

“You heard me.” I wait for more insults. 

Instead, a small smirk toys at the corner of his lips. “Hey, Ryan, did your sister suddenly find out she has balls instead of a pussy?” 

Ryan chucks the basketball at Easton‘s junk. 

Easton dodges it and starts to laugh. “I was kidding, it‘s kind of refreshing that the quiet twin found her voice, right?” 

Easton turns, his godlike profile making me want to both slap him and kiss him simultaneously. “How could I possibly forget?” His eyes roam me up and down. “She‘s like you but with boobs and “– his eyes leer purposefully lower– “y ou know.”