You’re Mine by Penny Brooks

Chapter 168

Easton

It's a rare day where I'm at home with just Dad, texting Harper and begging her to come visit so I can fuck her in my pool.

I'm not even ashamed to admit my actual text was - come to my house so I can fuck you in my pool.

She has to study for a test, so I upped it and said, pool and hot tub.

I have an hour before she can even attempt to get here, and I'm bored out of my mind, not because I'm not fucking, but because all I can think about is her and college, which stresses me out so much I'm useless when it comes to anything else.

Somehow, I find myself downstairs in the kitchen staring into the fridge like it's going to magically shit out food for me when my dad's voice sounds.

I jump a foot.

"Seriously? At least announce yourself.

"So, my hard footsteps against the marble floors weren't enough?" I shut the fridge and shoot him a glare.

"Or my heavy breathing? Or the fact that I said your name at least three times while you stared into the fridge like it was Heaven and you were a few seconds away from following the tiny light?" "Very funny." I run my hands down my face.

"Sorry, it's been a long day.' "Same"

Dad pulls out a barstool and sits.

I can tell he's not joking as he tugs on his black tie then pulls it off all the way only to shrug out of his suit jacket.

"I had to defend an innocent person who's now going to jail all because sometimes even the law can't save you.

He has two kids under four, and his wife's all on her own now.."

Dad shakes his head.

"Son, sometimes life isnt fair." "No"

I agree.

"It isn't." He leans onto the countertop.

"Want to talk about it?" "My feelings?" I state.

"No, not really.

I mean, what happens if I just blurt everything out then start crying like a little bitch?" "Then we disown you.

It's in the parenting handbook they gave us when you were born"

Dad deadpans.

"And again, very funny." Dad pulls out a chair.

'Sit, talk, unwind, want a beer?" "Is this the part where I say I'm underage like a good little boy and refuse to admit the fact that I've consistently been having parties and raiding your liquor cabinet for at least three years?" "I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that just like I'm going to pretend you arent underage and I'm not handing you alcohol, and you didn't just send a text to your girlfriend about fucking in the hot tub.' I actually gasp.

He doesn't make eye contact.

"Make sure you're not connected to the cloud son, bad things happen when you are.' I clear my throat.

"Noted"

"Anyway.."

He gets up and sure as shit goes to the fridge, grabs two beers, hands me one, and says, "Let's go sit outside"

Normally this is the part where every teen panics.

Is my archaic father going to try to have the sex talk with me? Is he going to use puppets again? Am I going to be scarred for life? Or is he just going to try to be relevant? The horror.

I mean.

Fuck.

Instead, we sit down in silence.

He sips his beer, I open mine, and sip it while giving him side-eye that says, spit it out before we awkwardly start talking about the weather or baseball, how 'bout those Yankees. I've had enough awkward conversations with my dad to last me an eternity, so I really don't need to add another one.

"What's on your mind?" Dad asks.

"You know, other than the hot tub, I won't ever go in for the rest of my existence" I hide my grimace behind the beer and take another sip before answering. "I'm going to Stanford"

"And your mom and I couldn't be more proud." He slaps me on the thigh.

"So you're nervous? Hell, I was nervous too.

Your pop-pop used to share stories with me about all his accomplishments, the clubs he was a part of; it's intimidating, I get it, but you'll be fine.

You'll graduate with honors, take over the law firm he started and work with your family.

It's all set out for you, son, like the smoothest drive you'll ever take"

And yet, as I sit there, it feels bumpy.

It feels wrong.

It feels like I would be taking a left when I should be taking a right.

I dont like this feeling.

And I hate that I don't feel like I can tell him that I'm apprehensive, that maybe I dont want to go there.

That I'm thinking of changing his entire plan and my trajectory because of a girl, but not just any girl, my girl. Fucking, MINE.

"Yeah.."

My voice sounds uncertain.

"That's it, just a lot of pressure, you know?" "Yup, sure do." He finishes his beer in a few swallows and then turns to face me.

"So are you going to tell me the real reason now or keep lying out of your ass?" "Son of a bitch," I grumble.

"Language"

He sets his empty can down and faces me.

"What's going on?" "I love her" I blurt out.

"That's what's going on.

I fucking love her"

"Your mom? Your Nana? That old goldfish you cried over when you were twelve?" "Okay, first of all, Goldy was a national treasure"

I pointed out.

"And even you felt bad when she went belly up"

"Only because my son cried," he says.

"So, who do you love?" "You know who I love"

I look down at my hands.

"And you know why I'm struggling." He sighs.

"Will you live your life making decisions based on your feelings or on fact?" Feelings, I want to say.

Fact fails you.

Fact always failed me because if I went by what felt right and what looked right on paper, Harper and I would equal a wrong, and I know in my soul we are the rightest thing that's ever happened.

Ever.

"Dad" I take a deep breath.

"I just think-" "Look who showed up!" Mom announces, coming out the door with Harper close behind.

"I asked her to stay for dinner!" Awesome.

Perfect.

So my dad can look at her and know exactly who I offered the family hot tub up to in sexual sacrifice.

Fuck, it's like the tree all over again! "Hey there." Harper comes over and sits on my lap.

"What were you boys talking about?" Nothing.

Everything.

You.

"Life," Dad finally says.

"We were talking about life"

He gets up and puts a hand on my shoulder, and finishes with, "Do the right thing."