You’re Mine by Penny Brooks

Chapter 161 Harper

Sadie came over to our house late Sunday afternoon with her laptop, and we went right to work editing the video footage she and Ryan got yesterday at the restaurant.

As we keep pouring over it, trimming it down to the highlights, I realize what they filmed is so damning.

When it gets out that Aisha is WHGOSSIP and she's the one behind all the malicious stories that have spread over the years, she's going to be ruined.

Finished.

Over.

For good.

"I can't wait to see her face at school Monday.

When she realizes she's been exposed and there's nowhere for her to hide," Sadie says as she stares at her laptop screen, her expression downright gleeful.

"It's going to be so good." "How are you even going to spread this around to everyone?"

"I've got a plan."

She is being way too evasive.

"And what exactly is that plan?"

"I'd rather keep you on a need to know basis.

As in if you need to know, I'll tell you."

Sadie cackles.

"You're being ridiculous."

I roll my eyes.

Start giggling.

Immediately stop.

"I feel kind of bad."

"Girl, if you say you feel guilty about exposing Aisha and all of her bullshit, I'm kicking you out of the house." Sadie is dead serious, I can tell.

"But are we being too mean?"

"Nothing is too mean for that snake." A sigh leaves me and I lean back in my chair, already giving up on the editing process.

I grab my phone to check it and see I have a text from my boyfriend.

Easton: Come outside.

"I'll be right back,"

I tell Sadie, who's not even paying attention to me.

Her gaze is still glued to her laptop.

I walk out onto the front porch to find Easton waiting there, a faint smile on his face.

He sweeps me into his arms, holding me close, delivering a soft kiss to my lips.

"What are you doing here?" I ask, breathless.

His hand slides down to my ass, gripping it.

"Been missing my favorite mystery girl, so I thought I'd come see you."

"You just saw me yesterday."

"Yeah, like twenty four hours ago." I roll my eyes.

"I Face Timed you last night."

"Not good enough.

When we were talking last night, all I could think about was you being in bed with me."

He kisses me again, and I'm done for.

I love it when he says stuff like that and calls me his mystery girl.

Or when he holds me tight, like he never wants to let me go.

He watches me as if I'm the most beautiful thing he's ever seen and he makes me feel beautiful.

Wanted.

Loved.

We went from having an amazing, romantic Valentine's Day together straight into all of this Aisha drama.

I just want some time with my boyfriend.

Looks like he's feeling the same way.

"I've missed you too,"

I whisper against his lips.

His strong arms squeeze me tight, pulling me in closer and I fall into his intoxicating kiss.

His tongue searches my mouth, making me whimper and I break away from his seeking lips, glancing toward the front door of the house. "My parents are in the kitchen," I murmur.

"So?"

He nuzzles my neck just before he kisses it, his lips hot on my skin.

A shiver steals over me.

"I don't want them to see us like this."

"They have to get used to us being together." I pull away from him, my lips parting and he presses his index finger against them, silencing me. "And dont you dare bring up the Christmas tree incident again.

They're over it."

"Sort of."

"Uh huh,"

he practically growls before he kisses me again.

I press against his chest, ending the kiss and pulling out of his embrace.

"Sadie is inside." "With Ryan?"

"No, with me.

She's editing the footage they got yesterday.' "And what exactly is she going to do with the footage once it's edited?"

"Somehow put it on blast and share it with everyone."

"Via social media?"

I shrug.

"I don't know if that's as effective as she thinks it'll be."

"Then how is she doing it?"

"Why don't you ask her?"

I grab his hand and drag him into the house, walking past the kitchen where my parents are.

"Easton's here! Say hi!"

"Hi Easton!"

At least her mom is cool with me.

But her dad doesn't say anything at all.

Whatever.

We head up the stairs for Harper's room, running into Ryan in the hallway.

"What are you doing here?"

he asks me.

"Came to see Harper." He smacks my ass, making Ryan scowl.

"Tone it down, bro," he mutters before he runs into my bedroom and basically mauls Sadie where she sits, making her squeal.

"Such a hypocrite." Easton shakes his head as we enter my bedroom.

"Okay guys, I've got it all put together,' Sadie announces triumphantly, rising to her feet.

"The video has been uploaded to the cloud.

Want to see it?"

Ryan grabs Sadie around the waist and delivers a noisy kiss to her cheek.

"You know it, babe." She disentangles herself from Ryan's grip and grabs her phone, tapping at the screen a couple of times.

"Okay.

It's sent."

All three of our phones sound with notifications from an unfamiliar number.

Frowning, I open the text to see a message and a video attachment.

Unknown number: Check THIS out.

Glancing up from my screen, I study Sadie, who's watching all of us with an eager expression on her face.

"What did you do?"

"Did you watch it?" I click on the video and it starts playing YouTube.

"What's up with the unknown number?" Ryan asks.

"And who did you send this to?"

Easton adds.

"Everyone."

I frown.

"What do you mean, everyone?"

"Like everyone you know.

Everyone at school.

Including staff." Sadie looks extremely pleased with herself.

"No freaking way,' Easton says, shaking his head, watching the video play out on his phone.

"Damn Sadie, pretty sure you just ruined Aisha for good." Sadie grins.

"Told ya that I would."