You’re Mine by Penny Brooks

Harper

I don't feel...right.

After my epic, over the top hissy fit about my grades at school, Easton took me straight home, quiet the entire drive while I sobbed as if someone had gutted our family dog and left him on the front porch for us to find.

He tried to reassure me, but his softly spoken words only made me wail harder.

Once I got home and composed myself, I emailed my history teacher and luckily enough, he responded quickly.

I reminded him about my extra credit work, he apologized for forgetting to include it and my grade moved to a solid B+.

Not the A I wished for, but good enough.

I FaceTime Easton a few hours later, after I've taken a nap and feel like a rested, semi-well-adjusted human.

"You better?" he greets me once his handsome face fills the screen.

Nodding, I smile at him.

"I took a nap." "So did I." "I emailed my teacher and he added the extra credit assignments.

Now I have a B+." He grins, running a hand through his hair.

Did I mention he's shirtless? And his biceps are bulging? Heart eyes all day for Easton, I swear.

"That's great, babe.

I bet you're happy." "So happy." "And less stressed." Not all the way.

For some reason, something is still hanging over me.

Something I can't quite put my finger on.

"Sure," I tell him, not wanting to delve into something I can't really explain.

"What are you doing tonight?" "I thought I'd take my favorite girl out," he says casually.

"We could grab some food.

Check out the Christmas lights around town." Butterflies flutter in my stomach at him calling me his favorite girl.

I will never grow tired of that.

"That sounds fun." "You want me to come pick you up in about an hour?" He hides a yawn with his hand.

"Will your parents let you out of the house?" "Yes," I say firmly.

"Because they're not here.

They're visiting my great aunt Jenny at her house.

She's ninety, still lives on her own and is mostly toothless, but she's also living her best life.

My mom is bringing her a giant tin of cookies as an early Christmas present.

Despite being toothless, she loves sweets." "That's probably why she's toothless," he says.

I burst out laughing.

"Probably." "I'm surprised they didn't drag you and Ryan along with them," Easton muses. "Aunt Jenny hates children.

I can come around when I'm twenty.

She told us that a few years ago." I laugh again.

So does Easton.

"Do you like children?" Easton asks me once our laughter has died.

My heart trips over itself.

"What do you mean?" "I don't know.

Guess I can see you being a good mom someday," he says with a shrug.

I swallow hard, wondering how the conversation deviated to this...

"But that's a long time from now," Easton continues.

"You having kids.

Maybe even us having kids.

After that conversation with your dad, I'm not allowed to think like that, you know? No buns in the oven.

No babies.

Thank God you're on the pill." "Right," I say, my voice thin.

"Thank God I'm on the pill." "I'll come get you in about an hour, okay? Dress warm.

We'll have the windows down and I'll blast Christmas music for the entire drive.

That's what my parents used to do when I was a kid," he says.

"Sounds fun.

I'll see you soon." We end the call and I stumble off my bed in a haze, going to my dresser to grab some clothes to wear before I head for the bathroom.

I open my bedroom door, stopping short when I spot Ryan standing there, his gaze snagging on mine.

"Where have you been?" he asks.

"Napping," I admit, pressing my lips together.

"How did the volunteer thing go at school?" "Lame.

We stayed for a while after Easton got you out of there, but we eventually left and went to lunch," he explains.

"It's like, five o'clock.

You had lunch for the last four hours?" I lift my brows.

Ryan grins like a maniac.

"You don't want any details, sis.

Trust me." His gaze drops to the clothes I'm clutching in my hands.

"What are you up to?" "Taking a quick shower before Easton picks me up.

We're going to drive around and look at the Christmas lights," I explain.

"Where's Mom and Dad?" "Having dinner with Aunt Jenny." A full body shudder seems to take over my brother at the idea.

"Glad we dodged that bullet." I slide into the bathroom and shut the door, dropping my clothes on the counter.

After I start the water, I use the bathroom, realization dawning slowly but surely.

Kids.

Birth control.

Period.

Or lack thereof.

Grabbing my phone, I check the date again, remembering the last time I opened my period app.

I was late back then.

And that was a week ago.

Or maybe longer? Oh shit.

I skipped my period.

Dread consumes me as I strip out of my clothes and step under the hot spray of water.

I didn't have a period, and here's Easton casually talking about how I'll make a great mother someday.

Holy hell, I could make someone a great mother in approximately eight months.

My parents are going to kill me.

Wait-they'll probably kill Easton first.

That's when the tears come, and I hurriedly wipe them away, pissed at myself.

How could I be so stupid? Even though I took my pill at the same time every single day.

I even have an alarm set to make sure I don't forget.

Huh.

Maybe that's why I've been so tired all the time.

And emotional.

I'm pregnant.

I brace my hand against the tiled wall, overwhelmed by a blast of confusing emotions.

This is...

This is the scariest, most surreal moment of my life.

Once I'm out of the shower and dressed, I'm fixing my hair when Easton sends me a text.

Easton: I'm here.

You ready? Me: Give me a sec.

I grab my bag and throw on a coat, bounding down the stairs and yelling, "Bye Ryan! See you later," as I exit through the front door and practically run toward Easton's Jeep.

The moment I'm inside, Easton leans over to drop a kiss on my lips, murmuring, "Hey beautiful." I stare at him.

His handsome face, those gorgeous blue eyes of his.

This man could be the future father of my child and oh my God, how am I going to tell him this? He frowns when I don't say anything.

"Harper, you okay?" "I'm late."