You’re Mine by Penny Brooks

Chapter 184

Easton

The drive to the hotel is half lusting over Harper and half alcohol buzzing through my veins.

Sadie and Ryan haven't come up for air in the last few minutes as they make out across from us like we won't have to go to therapy after listening to the wetness of their mouths sliding against one another along with the moans and what I'm sure is a giant boner Ryan's sporting since sitting down and pulling her onto his lap.

"So this is fun."

Harper jokes and then shudders as Ryan moans again.

"So fucking fun." I laugh and then pull her against me, kissing the top of her head.

God knows I want my girl, I always do, but I don't need to be all over her right now.

I adjust her crown on her head with pride before kissing her cheek again.

"You ready to party?" She looks up at me.

"I think we'll at least out last those two." Ryan moans.

*Son of a bitch, bro!" I throw my flask at his feet.

"Knock it off, we get it.

You're horny and super drunk, wait until you at least don't have an audience." "Don't mind one," he says between kisses.

"Sadiieeeeeee." Harper draws out her name.

"Fine, fine." Sadie gives Ryan a bit of a shove.

"Stop clutching your pearls." "More like puking them up," I mutter under my breath, earning a laugh from Harper.

Ryan sits back and wipes his mouth with his sleeve like he's been deep diving for clams or something, and Sadie stares across at us. "Is my lipstick messed up?"

I frown and lean in toward Harper.

"She's joking, right?" "Maybe it's a trick question?" She bounces back.

"Or we win a prize if we answer correctly?" "She does realize she's spent the last five minutes getting mauled by my twin...

ewwww, I can't say it out loud, saying it makes it real." "Was fucking real a few seconds ago, babe." I shudder.

"And yes, Sadie..." I turn my voice up a notch.

"Your makeup is fucked because of that fucker who wants to fuck you.

Any questions?" She turns to Ryan, who flips me off across the limo.

"Really?" "No, you're beautiful, always beautiful." "Right," Harper pipes up, "But you've got like...red..." She points her finger.

"...lipstick, like painted against your chin and right cheek." I nod my head in agreement.

"Think less crime scene more...

Vampire if that helps?" Sadie shoves Ryan and grabs her purse while Harper and I snicker and lean in close.

I can't help but stare at the stars in her eyes and pray to God it's because we're together, despite the fucking spray paint and the bullies.

Damn it, we may just survive all of this, huh? High school should come with both a waming and a passport just to get in so we can burn it when we get out-ridiculous.

I try not to do that whole trip down memory lane because, quite honestly, it makes me fucking panic over all of the shit that went down...

that we went through...

and the shit road we had to travel down to get to this point.

Would I do it again? Yeah, and that's what's terrifying.

Because a year ago, I would have said I wanted an easy senior year, no drama, a lot of sex, hanging out with my boys.

But now? I have my queen by my side.

She's wearing the crown she deserves after going to hell and back, and honestly, I'd travel that road a billion times as long it means I get to be by her side.

SIMP.

My brain screams.

"Yup," my heart screams right back as it flips my brain off.

Sue me.

We all laugh and drink as the limo takes us to the hotel and drops us off.

I told her dad I'd be respectful, knowing full well he knew what was about to go down tonight, when he pulled me aside and started getting that awkward 'do we need alcohol for this conversation" look in his eyes.

"Yeah, so...prom." He rocks back on his heels.

*Yup." I rock back on mine, mimicking his movements.

I shove my hands into my pockets.

He does the same.

A.crow flies overhead searching for my dead body-okay, not really, but I half expect him to pull a gun and say pistols at dawn, all right? He suddenly announces, "I too went to prom." "Wow.

I didn't know they had prom back then." I laugh at my own joke.

He doesn't.

So far, I'm losing.

"Lots of partying," he adds in.

"Sir, III keep her safe. I love your daughter and-""-get her fucking pregnant, and I will find you.

I can tell you I don't have money.

But what I do have are a very particular set of skills, skills I have acquired over a very long career, skills that make me a nightmare for people like you—"

* Are you quoting Taken?" "Seemed appropriate." I hold out my hand to shake his.

"Yeah, that's fair." He shakes it and sighs.

"Great movie though." "Fantastic movie." He hangs his head and swallows like it almost hurts to speak or breathe.

"She's my baby girl, Easton." He tums to me.

"But I trust you." I almost break.

His words mean so much.

I nod my head because it is all I can do, and then he ruins the moment by handing me a small package all wrapped up in weird as hell birthday paper.

"Ummmm." I take it.

"What's this?" "Didn't want the wife to suspect anything." She legit walks around the comer.

"The limo's here!" "Perfect!" Harper's dad says, a bit too loud.

"Oh, honey." She frowns and stares at the Marvel birthday package in my hand.

"Is it your birthday" Yeah, because a grown-ass man would totally wrap a birthday present in Iron Man, well okay, maybe...

I wouldn't be opposed to that.

"Just a present for his-"-Nephew." I nod.

"Your husband's just so giving..." "Aw, sweetie!" She kisses his cheek and leaves while I give hima what the fuck look.

"Just..." He turns bright red.

"I don't want to think about it, just...be safe." Hours later, I almost called my mom's therapist.

He'd given us condoms.

CONDOMS! And he'd given me the medium-sized that rat bastard! At first, I was weirded out, then I realize that asshole of an awesome father was just playing mind tricks, he knows we'll have sex, and he knows it was gonna happen but wanted to basically be like, I'm the bigger dick, just try to fight me.

Until all of the bullshit with the red paint-it might have been one of the funniest moments of my life.

"Why are you laughing?" Harper nudges me as we get out of the limo, and I return to the present with my thoughts.

"I just..." L grin.

"Fucking love Iron Man, you know?" Same, bro, same." Ryan nods seriously while both girls look at us like we're crazy.

Andlam.

Crazy.

Insane.

Mad.

For her.