You’re Mine by Penny Brooks

Chapter 37

Easton

I don't remember driving to Julia's house. I mean, clearly I was parked in front staring at the large two-story brick house deep in the suburbs, but I was still thinking about Harper.

About her taste.

About the way she threw me out of her fucking house like I was yesterday's trash when I was completely innocent-well okay, so not completely innocent but

Aisha had been all up in my business for the last few months, and I'm a guy, so I took her up on it a few times, but now I have a different taste on my tongue.

Too bad she hates me.

With a groan, I kill the engine to my Jeep and distractedly snatch my phone in my hand. It feels like betrayal, even though I know I didn’t do anything wrong.

I let it slide.

Shake it off and get out of the SUV. Is Harper pissed? Yes. But I am too because she’s constantly jumping to conclusions, constantly waiting for me to do the shitty thing.

Do you blame her? A voice says in my head.

“All I do is fuck.” My own stupid ass brain reminds me.

I groan and make my way to the door, but before I can even knock, Aisha is opening it. “You made it."

Her grin is way too wide and excited like I'm here delivering candy and free weed when really I just want to get in, get my fucking paper written, and leave.

I'm already suspicious of her because, let's face it-it's her, so I shove past her and mutter a “whatever” and make my way into the sizable stark home.

It's one of those houses that tells you exactly what type of people live there without even confessing all the secrets.

Perfect family photos line the white walls.

Expensive candles are littered around the living room-with its fur rugs and high end furniture. Anyone would expect Julia to have the perfect life.

Instead, she flew solo most of the time and used that time to dive into her studies and, in her words, not mine. “Make my parents pay when I have a company bigger than Amazon and give them nothing.”

A bit vindictive? Yes, but I don't really care.

I just need the paper written so I can get the fuck out of here and go home, then potentially try to figure out where it all went wrong with Harper.

My brain chooses that moment to show me all the moments we had together, her thighs, her mouth, her taste.

“Hey,” Aisha snaps her fingers in front of my face. “You here or what?"

I literally have no idea how I even made it into the kitchen.

With a shrug, I sigh and fall onto one of the metal bar stools. Julia is on her phone texting. Her blonde hair is in a high ponytail that keeps whipping around every time she turns her head.

The doorbell rings.

“Probably Ryan,” I say more to myself than anyone.

Aisha shrugs and leaves the room.

Once she's out, I drum my fingers against the white marble countertop. “So, Julia, how long will this take?”

“Depends. How much money do you have?” She grins at her screen then looks up. “Chill, I'm kidding, we can get it done in an hour or so.” She licks her full pale lips. “By the way, payment should be negotiated first.” Her eyes drop to my cock and she scoots closer to me. Seriously?

Months ago, I would have said, I'm down.

Now I want to yell.

Because her smell is wrong, just like her mouth, just like her everything. Everything is fucking wrong.

“No.” I find myself saying. “I have a thing with Ryan at my parents, so this has to be fast.”

“I can be fast.”

“I mean the paper.” I clarify, clenching my teeth. Ryan's voice fills the room as he and Aisha argue, and honestly, I can't take it anymore. “Aisha,” I bark. “Go to the Jeep and grab my bag so I can get this shit done.”

“Whoa,” Julia smirks. “Someone needs a Xanax.”

"How perceptive.” I glare. “For real, Aisha.” I toss her my keys, “Just grab my shit so I can get out of here.”

“You sure Aisha going through your shit is a good idea?” Ryan says under his breath.

I sigh. “And don't leave your panties behind like last time. That shit isn't funny.”

Aisha visibly deflates. “Fineeeee, be right back, limp dick.”

“That's a lie, and you know it,” I yell after her.

She flips me off, her heels clicking against the marble as I hear the door open and then slam closed. I can't even be pissed. “Yo, Julia,” I snap my fingers in front of

her. “Time is ticking-let's get this done.”

“Oh sorry.” She puts her phone down, not looking the least bit sorry. “All right, we still have terms of payment.”

With a growl, I reach for her neck, pull her close and kiss her cheek. My body doesn't feel a thing as she tries to cling to me. “Done. Next.”

She shoves me against the counter. “You're such a dick.”

I hold out my hands in surrender. “At least I paid.”

She rolls her eyes. “Fine, let me grab my laptop. I need to read over some of your notes so it sounds like some shit you'd actually write, and then you and princess Ryan over there can leave.”

Ryan ignores her.

I elbow him.

What the hell is taking Aisha so long?

Finally, the front door opens, she’s smoothing down her black leather skirt like she just had a quickie, and on top of that, she’s looking hella suspicious.

“Find something in there?” I ask.

She holds up my leather messenger bag and shrugs. “You mean other than all those used condoms?”

“Jealous?” I tease.

“Always.” She winks and drops my bag on the table.

It's maybe fifteen minutes before I'm ready to pull my own hair out. Without realizing it, Aisha had taken a picture of all of us “studying” and posted it to her stories, so now Ryan's phone is blowing up, and mine isn't.

Which pisses me the hell off.

I mean, she follows me now, so why isn't she mad?

Why isn't she fighting with me at the very least?

Whatever.

*...another five minutes.” Julia yawns, typing on her MacBook Pro. “Nah.” I grab my shit. “I have somewhere to be.”

“Me too.” Ryan follows suit.

“What?” Aisha’s lower lip pouts out. “I thought we were gonna hang later?”

“Ryan's sick.” I lie.

Ryan, to his credit, manages a fake cough and looks at me for approval when I want to strangle him, only to cough again.

“See?” I point out. "He's been feeling sick all day. I gotta follow him home.”

Aisha’s eyes narrow while Julia's face takes on a disappointed look. “Email me, Julia.” I grab the rest of my shit and shove Ryan toward the door without saying goodbye to Aisha, which I'm sure pisses her off even more.

We make it to my Jeep.

Memories assault me.

“Bro, who were you hooking up with?” Ryan shoves me.

"Huh? What?" I stumble back.

“I get it now.” He smiles. “Why you didn’t want to stay, got some girl you wanna get back to.” His smile makes me want to punch him. “Nice hickey, by the way, and the scratch marks, I'm sure Aisha wasn't happy.” “Huh?” I touch my neck where he points and sure enough, I feel the scratches, and when I look in the rearview mirror, I see the small hickey. Planted by his sister.

Why isn't she fighting with me at the very least?

Whatever.

*...another five minutes.” Julia yawns, typing on her MacBook Pro. “Nah.” I grab my shit. “I have somewhere to be.”

“Me too.” Ryan follows suit.

“Ryan's sick.” I lie.

Ryan, to his credit, manages a fake cough and looks at me for approval when I want to strangle him, only to cough again.

“See?” I point out. "He's been feeling sick all day. I gotta follow him home.”

Aisha’s eyes narrow while Julia's face takes on a disappointed look. “Email me, Julia.” I grab the rest of my shit and shove Ryan toward the door without saying goodbye to Aisha, which I'm sure pisses her off even more.

We make it to my Jeep.

Memories assault me.

“Bro, who were you hooking up with?" Ryan shoves me.

"Huh? What?" I stumble back

“I get it now.” He smiles. “Why you didn’t want to stay, got some girl you wanna get back to.” His smile makes me want to punch him. “Nice hickey, by the way, and the scratch marks, I'm sure Aisha wasn't happy.” “Huh?” I touch my neck where he points and sure enough, I feel the scratches, and when I look in the rearview mirror, I see the small hickey. Planted by his sister.