You’re Mine by Penny Brooks

Chapter 177

Harper

"Do you need a drink?" I ask Easton.

He takes a look at his glass and says, "Wouldn't mind a refill, babe"

He hands me the tumbler.

"How about you?" I ask Ryan.

He checks his bottle of beer.

"Still got a half, I'm good for right now, but do me a favor, check on my girlfriend, I haven't seen her in like ten minutes or something." Now that I think of it, he's right. It feels like it's been a century since Sadie disappeared to the bathroom.

"I'm on it," I tell both of them and I carry Easton's glass into the kitchen, making him another vodka soda and deliver it to him before I go to the downstairs bathroom.

There's a small line outside the door and I ask the person in the front, "Is Sadie in there?" He shrugs and replies, "I think it's Michael, but I'm kinda too drunk to remember"

Sadie isn't in line.

There's a chance she went upstairs to use Easton's bathroom.

That's where I'm going to check, but I'm going to get myself a beer first.

I go to his dad's private garage to grab one from his secret stash and open the door, flipping on the light.

"Turn off the light,' I hear someone say the moment I look inside.

I immediately notice someone leaning against the wall halfway between the fridge and me.

That someone is my best friend.

And there's a guy pinning her to the wall, his lips all over hers, his hands moving up and down her sides.

"What the fuck?" I shout, my hands instantly shaking, my heart freezing.

They stop kissing and look at me.

My stomach churns when I see who it is.

"Blake?" I gasp and look at Sadie.

"Sadie, what the hell are you doing with him?" "Blake," she slurs and her eyes widen, like she's just now realizing it's him.

Her hand flattens against his chest and she pushes him away from her.

At least she attempts to, but he doesn't move.

"H-how dare y-you." She's a mess.

Drunker than I thought.

I never should have let her go to the bathroom by herself.

But it's too late..

And now...

she's made out with Blake? Oh God.

"How d-dare you," she continues and tries to step back, but he's holding onto her.

"I—1.

I thought you were R-Ryan"

"You thought who was Ryan?" my brother says from the doorway directly next to me, his empty hand telling me he'd come in here for another beer.

He'd just chosen the worst timing ever.

At least the scene isn't as bad as it was a few seconds ago.

Still, it's bad enough.

Blake's hands are on Sadie's waist.

Her lipstick is smeared all over Blake's mouth.

Tears are spilling down Sadie's face.

"Ryan, she cries, "I didn't know.

I thought it was you .."

I look at Ryan just as it all seems to click in his head, his teeth grinding together as he roars, "Sadie, what the fuck am I looking at right now?" I don't know how to fix this.

I dont want to throw my best friend under the bus.

I don't want my brother to kill Blake in Easton's house.

I don't want my brother to feel betrayed because his girlfriend was just making out with his friend.

Fuck.

"Ryan.."

I start.

He cuts me off and launches for Blake, saying, "I'm going to fucking murder you!" But someone comes running up behind Ryan, stopping him by holding him steady, and I quickly realize Easton has joined us and he's not letting my brother go.

"What the fuck is going on?" Easton shouts across the garage.

No one says anything.

If it wasn't for Sadie crying, we'd be standing in silence.

"Someone better fucking answer me,' Easton demands.

"Let me go!" Ryan shouts, trying to wiggle out of Easton's grip.

"Not until I know what the fuck is happening," Easton replies.

"Tell him, Harper!" Ryan declares.

"Tell him what you saw because your face is telling me you fucking saw something"

But I dont get a chance to say anything because Sadie moves away from Blake and closes the distance between her and Ryan.

"I felt hands-s on me and-d it was dark-k." She hiccups.

"And then I-lips"

Another hiccup.

"And I heard y-your name and I was sure it was y-you, Ryan"

Ryan looks like he's about to explode when he says to her, "Did he take advantage of you?" "Come on, man," Blake starts.

But Ryan cuts him off and says, "Answering the question, Sadie.

Did Blake take advantage of you?" "I-I"

She puts her hand on her forehead, her skin starting to turn pale.

"I don't th-think so.

I'm s-so drunk, Ryan"

I know my best friend better than anyone.

And I know when she's reached her alcohol limit and we're there right now.

"She's going to be sick," I tell everyone, and I move past the boys and grab Sadie's arm, leading her out of the garage.

"Just hold on to me, I'm going to bring you into Easton's room so you have some privacy"

I take most of her weight, carefully guiding her up the stairs into Easton's room and close the door behind us.

I get her into the bathroom and just as I'm grabbing a washcloth to wet, she leans over the toilet and throws up.

"Oh God, Harper,' she cries.

I quickly wet the cloth with cool water and hold it against her neck.

"It's okay.

You're going to feel better after this." "Everything is spinning"

She purges again and I hold her hair out of her face, rubbing soft circles over her back.

"You're all right," I whisper.

"What did I do, Harp?" She sobs between retches.

"What did I do with Blake?" "Don't worry about that now"

"Ryan's going to hate me." She turns to me, her black eyeliner running down her cheeks.

"Hate, hate, haaaaate me"

I take the washcloth off her neck and start to wipe her face.

"He won't"

"But he w-will.

You know your brother, he doesnt t-take any shit"

"I'll talk to him, Sadie." Since it looks like she's done, I flush the toilet and bring her over to the sink, trying to clean the rest of the makeup off her face. "Don't worry, I'm going to make this better." "You cant," she sobs.

"Loan"

I hear the sound of the bedroom door opening, Ryan appearing in the doorway of the bathroom.

"Sadie, are you all right?" I don't want them to fight.

I don't even want them to talk about this now.

They're both way too drunk, nothing will get resolved, and Sadie will only get sicker.

"Get out," I tell him.

"She needs to lay down and rest." "Sadie, answer me, are you all right?" Ryan asks her, ignoring me.

"No," she cries, gripping the sink with both hands.

"Do I need to take you to the hospital?" I put my hands on my brother's shoulders and back him up a few feet.

"Let me take care of this.

Please"

His stare hardens.

"Harper-" "Listen to me, Ryan.

She's drunk.

She's emotional.

She's been throwing up.

You two will talk about this in the morning." I nod toward the door.

"Go"

"Fine.

Fuck." He continues through Easton's room and shuts the door behind him.

That's when I turn to Sadie and help her out of the bathroom, leading her into Easton's room and onto his bed.

"You just need some sleep,' I tell her, adjusting the pillow to make her more comfortable.

I take off her shoes and cover her in a blanket.

"He h-hates me." Her head shakes from right to left.

"Hates"

I push the hair out of her face and try to settle her down.

"He's going to break-k up with m-me." I continue to try to soothe her, but I say nothing.

Because I don't want to lie.

The truth is, I don't know how my brother is going to react, because ...

This is the first girl he's ever loved.