You’re Mine by Penny Brooks novel Chapter 121

Chapter 121

Harper

With Easton's phone tucked under my arm to hide it from my teacher, I enter the classroom, and hurry to my desk.

Once I'm sitting, I take out my textbook and notebook and pretend to be ready for class. Really, it’s just a stage, so I can look prepared while, in all actuality, I’ll be hiding behind the guy in front of me, using Easton's phone to catch up on all the things I’ve missed. Just as I'm typing in his passcode—the same code, I’ve learned, that opens his locker—I hear, “Are you all right?"

The question comes from my left, the seat where Blake sits. I'm sure he’s asking because he saw Easton and I arguing.

Blake misses nothing. I don’t want to get into it. It's none of his business.

Whatever I tell him, I’m sure will get right back to Aisha, and then I'll have to listen to her teasing, too. I'm over it. I glance at him, observing the concern etched across his face. “Yeah, I'm fine."

“You deserve better."

He turns his body toward me. “I told him that when I saw him gloating in the hallway a few seconds ago. What dude does that, by the way? Fight with their girlfriend, and then act like king of the world?"

He rolls his eyes. “Anyway, I just want you to know that you don't have to put up with someone treating you that way. You're a hell of a catch, Harper. Any guy in this school would agree."

My heart aches. I was the reason for today’s fight. I was the one who royally fucked things up. I was the one who waited her whole life to date someone—someone as amazing as Easton—and then kept him a secret from her parents.

What's wrong with me? How am I going to make this up to Easton? How am I going to show him how much I love him? “Harper?"

I realize I'm staring at Blake, lost in my thoughts, not saying anything. “Yes?"

“Stop doubting yourself. Every word I said is true."

I nod and turn back toward the front of the room, the teacher beginning her lecture. I don’t know what she's saying, nor do I care.

What I need is to get out of my head for a few minutes and focus on something other than my massive fuck—up. I unlock Easton’s phone and pull up his Instagram. Do I snoop? Ugh, I can’t help myself.

I immediately pull up his DMs and start scrolling, looking for names that stand out.

There's nothing, just a bunch of stuff with his guy friends. Phew. I logout of his account and login to mine, catching up with all the messages I've missed.

I check Aisha’s page, surprised there isn’t some type of reference about my fight with Easton this morning—or anything about me in general or her everlasting love for him. She’s been quiet, and that’s not like her.

WHGOSSIP hasn't had anything really juicy to share either. In fact, their posts have been a little lame lately, a few hookups that the school already knows about, a fight between two cheerleaders that resulted in lost weaves. Snore.