You’re Mine by Penny Brooks

Harper

I stare at the roses in my locker and almost burst into tears.

"What do you think?"

Easton's deep voice is behind me.

I swipe my cheek as a tear trails down it.

I don't tell him, but all I keep thinking about is this ridiculous montage of all the moments as I walked by his locker, mine, wishing things were different.

Wishing we were together.

And now I'm looking at a locker full of roses, candy, and I'm hearing my man's voice behind me as he wraps his arms around my body, resting his chin on the top of my head.

"Didn't expect tears,"

he whispers.

"I mean, I expected at least a kiss, a hug, maybe a BJ if I was a really good boy-"

I elbow him in the ribs and turn in his arms.

"I love you." His eyes go glassy.

Did I do that? It's only us in this moment, and it's all I need as I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him hard, he pushes me against the locker next to mine, and I start to hear whistles and catcalls. I don't care.

All I care about is him.

All I need is him.

And then I wonder how did I ever survive without this boy? His mouth on mine and the way he makes me feel like I can conquer anything in this world as long as he's by my side? He pulls back. "Happy Valentine's Day."

"I got you a card," I blurt lamely.

He throws his head back and laughs.

"I like cards."

"It has a turtle on it," I grumble.

"With a heart, so at least there's that, but I didn't know what to get you, and I just—"

He cuts me off again with a kiss.

Then another.

Easton pulls away again.

"I have tonight all planned."

I've never been more excited that school is done for the day as I am at this moment.

I want to jump his bone and fuck him against the metal and wrap my legs around his body.

We break apart when I hear Ryan curse under his breath.

"Sorry man." Easton wipes his mouth like I licked him, and my brother narrows his eyes like he's contemplating homicide.

"It is Valentine's Day though, so..."

Ryan grunts.

Thank God Sadie rushes to his side and pulls his head down for a kiss.

"We gonna hook up on a bed of roses?"

Ryan kisses her back.

Totally my turn to gag.

He flips me off literally while kissing her, then stops and turns to Easton and me.

"Should we tell them?"

Sadie starts bouncing on her feet.

"Tell us what? Are we going out to eat? Italian? French? Should we go get all hot for you guys and-"

"-Stop,' Ryan says and silences her with a kiss.

"All you girls need to know is that you need an overnight bag.

Dress comfortably and be ready to relax."

Weirdly enough, I literally slump against Easton, already thinking about how nice it would be to relax with my people.

My relaxation is ruined however when the sound of Aisha's heels click against the ground.

I smell her gross perfume as she stops in front of us and puts her hands on her hips.

She's wearing a pink skirt and white crop top with sparkly pink heels.

Every part of her looks like she should audition for Legally Blonde or at least be a body double as her eyes move from left to right, taking us in.

"Must be an exciting Valentine's Day."

Her penciled eyebrows arch.

Suddenly Blake comes up behind her, gives her a weird look, and walks off.

She doesn't see it, but I do.

It's still strange how he was so close with her only to shove her away and try to get back with the guys, but who am I to even attempt to understand High School politics at this point? "What the fuck do you want?" Easton sounds almost exhausted like he's at the point where he wants to toss in the towel and just run her over with his Jeep.

"I used to think you were like a bad cold, now I'm pretty sure even Hitler would be annoyed." She gasps.

"Don't gasp like you even know History.

Didn't you fail twice?"

Easton smirks.

"Anyway, we should be going..." "Where?"

Aisha lifts her chin.

"Out to eat like every other loser on Valentine's Day?"

She peers around me and smirks.

"Ohhhh, roses in a locker, classic.

Hey, Easton, didn't you do that for me Freshman year? Only I think they were white roses? God, those chocolates were amazing too, so was the sex-" "-Should have been black roses representing your funeral," Ryan says under his breath.

"Let's go man."

Sadie is fuming at his side.

And I'm just done.

So what? He gave her roses.

He gave me his heart.

And I gave him my ass.

I laugh just thinking about it.

"What's so funny?"

Aisha nearly growls.

I turn around, grab Easton's hand, and put it on my ass.

"Oh nothing, just the fact that there are still some things you never gave him...

and some things he never gave you.

Too bad I took it all.

So take your flowers, take your chocolates, and shove them up your ass the way his dick was shoved up mine during break."

"My ears!"

Ryan yells.

Sadie offers a high five.

And Aisha stumbles back in her stupid pink heels.

"Best ass ever."

Easton kisses the top of my head.

"You guys ready?"

"I will never recover from this,"

Ryan mumbles.

"Atta girl!"

Sadie is basically dancing as we leave Aisha in the hall scowling at us with her jaw dropped open.

And Easton's hand is pressed against the very ass he claimed.

Point.

Me.

"So,"

I ask once we're at the Jeep.

"Where are we going?"

Easton pulls me against him for a quick kiss.

"We're going to the Lakehouse.

Your parents are gone for the night, so are mine, not that they care...and we even have our dinner already pre-made and packed in ice chests." I wrap my arms around him.

"What are we having?"

He leans down and whispers in my ear.

"Ass."

I swat him.

He just laughs.

"You know you're fucking amazing, right?"

"Me or my ass?" "Both."

He laughs.

"Both."

I turn around.

Ryan's plugging his ears, and Sadie's trying to get him to stop.

I realize in that moment it doesn't matter how we got here, but the fact that we are here, and it's perfect.

More than I could ever ask for.

Finally.

We're finally having our moment.

It just took a hell of a lot of shit to get here.

I almost flip off Aisha as she walks out into the parking lot but honestly, at this point, I almost feel sorry for her.

Who's getting into Easton's Jeep? Me.

Who had a pregnancy scare then had that same guy promise to stay? Me.

Who loves me? I turn.

He smiles.

Him.

It's always been him.

"What?"

He kisses my forehead.

"Nothing."

I shrug.

"Just having a moment.' "Well, let's pause that moment so we can both share in it once we're at the Lakehouse...I brought...things."

My eyebrows shoot up.

"Things?"

He grips my ass.

"You'll see."