You’re Mine by Penny Brooks

Chapter 42

Easton

What the actual fuck did I just witness?

After fighting off Aisha's dirty claws as she tried her damnedest to pull me in for a kiss-not happening, not ever again-1 head for the gym to go to the pep rally and see Harper's lips smashed against...

Blake's.

Yeah.

No.

I storm toward them, ready to rip Blake off of her when Harper breaks away from him first, her eyes wide as she stares up at him. The look on her face clearly says, what did I do?

While the look on Blake's face says, hell yeah.

Fucker.

My hands curl into fists as I wait for her to see me. Will her to see me with my mind.

Come on, Harp. Give me a look. Just one. You can do it.

But she doesn't. She just laughs off whatever urge might've taken over the both of them, her gaze briefly cutting to mine only when she hooks her arm around Blake's to let him lead her into the gym.

I glare, frozen, my fingers clenching and unclenching as I contemplate all the many ways I can rearrange Blake's stupid face.

*...don't know what came over you just now, but keep doing it,” Blake says with a

chuckle as they walk into the gym together.

Wait a minute.

Harper kissed Blake? It wasn't the other way around?

I storm into the gym after them, about ready to ask her what the fuck she’s doing when I realize there are hundreds of us in the gym. Hundreds of witnesses. I'm not supposed to like this girl. Or even talk to her.

“Hey, there you are.” I turn to see Ryan approaching me. “Want to sit together?”

“Sure. Not with Blake though,” I add as we start toward the bleachers. “Really?” Ryan frowns, glancing around as if he's trying to find him, scowling when he does. “He keeps talking to my sister.”

This is my chance to distract him from me completely. “Uh, don't know how to tell you this, but I just saw them kissing in the hallway.”

“What the hell?” Ryan sounds positively enraged. Good. Maybe he can kick Blake's ass for me. “I'll murder him.”

I grab his arm when he acts like he’s going to do just that. “Bro, it was nothing. Seriously.” I'm downplaying it so my own mind won't go into pure freak out mode. “I just thought you should know. Watch out for that guy.”

e

“I know. He's a complete player. And no good for my sister,” Ryan mutters as we

climb up the bleachers and find a spot to sit.

Sadie chooses that moment to plop her butt next to Ryan. “Who are you talking about not being good enough for Harper? You, Easton?” The pointed look she sends me reminds me of how she caught me with Harper and I send her the same kind of look in return. “No. I just saw your bestie making out with Blake.”

Sadie starts to laugh. Slaps her knee like I told her a hilarious joke. “No kidding? God, I'm almost jealous. She's getting so much attention from guys lately.”

“Like from who?" Ryan asks her.

“Yeah, Sadie. Who?" My voice has an edge to it. This girl needs to keep my name off her lips.

“Like Id tell you two.” She waves a hand, dismissing us, but I can tell Ryan wants to ask her more questions.

Thank God the rally finally starts.

It's the usual kind of thing you can expect from a high school rally. A rousing performance by the band of the “Star Spangled Banner’ and our fight song, the cheer team shaking their poms-and their asses-along with the beat while we all lose our minds in the stands. The football team comes out. The coaches talk them up. Teachers make announcements. The cheer team comes back out onto the floor for another ass shaking performance.

Aisha finds me in the crowd and never looks away once while she performs. It's unnerving. I stare back, dead inside as I think of the way Harper jumped on Blake.

The manwhore with the stupid man bun.

My friend.

How could he?

How could he not? Harper is a delectable little piece with a juicy ass and juicier lips. I'm dying to tap that juicy ass. Just once, to get her out of my system. Then I can move on. Obsess over someone else.

Ryan would kill me if he could read my thoughts right now. Hell, Aisha would too, since she’s still shaking her tits at me with that fuck me expression on her face.

I finally have to look away, unable to take it any longer. My gaze scans the crowd, snagging on Harper, who's watching me with pain and confusion in her eyes. What a load of shit. Who does this girl think she is? Playing the both of us for fools is what she’s doing.

I'm over it.

Over her.

Liar.

Yeah. I'm also most definitely a liar.

The remainder of the rally passes in a blur. I'm not paying attention, too consumed with thoughts of Harper and her betrayal. Of her giving that mouth to someone else, even for just a little bit.

That mouth belongs to me.

It's mine.

No one else's

The rally ends and we exit the bleachers, herded like cattle. I fall into step behind Ryan with Sadie ahead of him, trying my best to ignore the familiar voice rattling on behind me.

“Come on, H. Let's grab dinner tonight. You said you'd be down.”

I clench my jaw and breathe through my nose. He's asking her on a date and I'm right fucking here. And Ryan's already so far ahead of us with Sadie, he can't even hear Blake ask his sister out.

“I wish I could, but I don't know. I have a ton of homework to finish.” Harper sounds genuinely sad.

“I can help you with it after we eat. I'm a genius, remember?” Blake's tone is cajoling. Flirtatious. The fucker thinks a couple of winks, one shitty kiss and a free dinner is going to break this girl down?

Nah.

Maybe I should help it along.

"You should go for it.” I glance over my shoulder and stare directly at Harper, noting the guilt flashing in her eyes.

Good.

“Go for what?” she asks me, her dark eyes blazing.

“Dinner with Blake. I'm sure he can show you a good time” I smile— more like a baring of teeth-and then get the fuck out of there.