You’re Mine by Penny Brooks novel Chapter 88

Easton

What do you do when your girlfriend is full of doubt and in a bad mood for the entire day? You take her back to your place, make popcorn and grab a couple of sodas, and then drag her into your bed along with your laptop with the promise of, “watching a movie".

That's code for getting naked with each other.

Harper didn't get the memo though.

When I enter my bedroom with the promised drinks and snacks, I find her sitting on top of my bed with every stitch of clothing still on, her back against the headboard as she stares so hard at her phone, her forehead is wrinkled.

Frustration fills me but I bat it away and paste on a smile.

"Everything okay?” "What?"

She glances up at me, smiling when she sees what I'm carrying.

“Oh my God, I'm starving."

I settle in beside her on the bed, disappointed she's not naked under the covers but I guess I can't be too upset, considering I didn't tell her what I wanted in the first place.

"Here."

I hand her the can of Coke and she takes it from me, cracking it open and immediately guzzling from it.

"I've been on an anti—caffeine kick lately.

Worst possible time to try to give it up,"

she says.

I set the bowl in between us on the bed and we both stick our hands in the popcorn at the same time, our fingers brushing.

She snatches her hand away, brushing her fingers against her lips as she studies me.

"I want to help you forget all of your troubles,” I murmur, leaning over to deliver a kiss to her salty lips.

She smiles, but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes.

"I appreciate you wanting to distract me with snacks and a movie, but I don’t know if it's going to work...” I pull away from her, banging the back of my head against the headboard, closing my eyes briefly as I blow out an exasperated breath.

“Harper, I already reassured you that nothing is going to happen.

I wish you could trust me.

Leigh is gone.

They'll probably fire her.

Eventually everything will just..go away.

And everything will go back to normal."

"I do trust you, but are we really going to get that lucky, Easton? Or is that bitch going to be back at school and trying to bribe you again with sex?” I glance over at Harper to witness her with her head tilted back and her chest thrust forward as she keeps chugging the soda like she's a frat boy downing a beer.

“Harp.

Slow down."

She wipes the back of her hand across her mouth and sets the can on the nightstand.

"I'm sorry.

I'm just really stressed out right now."

She grabs a handful of popcorn and gobbles it down.

Huh, My girl is feeling...a certain way.

And I need to help her forget.

At least for the afternoon.

"Give me your phone.” I hold my hand out toward her.

She eyes it warily.

"Why?"

“We're going to disconnect for a while,” I wiggle my fingers.

"Hand it over."

She slaps her phone in my palm and I lean over to drop it in the nightstand drawer.

Then, I grab my laptop and crack it open.

"What kind of movie do you want to watch? Horror? Action?"

"A rom com, please,"

she says primly, reaching for more popcorn.

Whatever my girl wants.