You’re Mine by Penny Brooks novel Chapter 85

Harper

"But I didn't fuck her, baby,"

Easton says, his hand moving to my face.

“I didn’t touch her at all.” I want to push him away, but the sound of his voice is what I cling to.

The softness, the rawness, the truth I see in his eyes.

"I couldn't do it,"

he continues.

"I got to her house, I told her how much you mean to me, and that I'm willing to take whatever punishment comes my way but to leave you out of it.” The ache in my stomach turns to something else.

Relief? Tingles? There's so much emotion running through me, I'm not sure I can differentiate my feelings anymore.

But I know I need to hear something again, I need to hear it over and over until it sinks in.

"You really didn't have sex with her?"

He shakes his head.

"No, baby."

His other hand joins my face.

“I didn’t kiss her, I didn’t touch her—nothing happened between us."

His stare deepens.

"I care about you, Harper, more than you think I do.” I fall against his chest and his arms wrap around me, his scent, his warmth, his breath—all giving me so much comfort.

This morning, I didn't know if I'd be here again with him and now I can't imagine being anywhere else.

My eyes close and after a few seconds I ask, “How are we going to get out of this mess?"

“It's my mess, not yours."

I squeeze him tighter.

"You're not in this alone."

"I am because there's no way I'm dragging you into it.

You got enough shit from WHGOSSIP, you don’t need anymore."

I bury my face in his neck.

"What's going to happen?"

"Mrs.

Scott called me this morning and told me she has a meeting with the school board.

I'm sure they're going to drag me in and ask all the questions, but I'm not going to rat her out for anything.

The last thing I need is for anyone to press charges and for this to go to court.” "Does that mean things between you two will go back to the way they were?” He kisses the top of my head.

"After this is over, things will be cordial, but I assure you I won't be asking for any more favors.

Which means, we're definitely getting detention for being this late to class.” I tilt my neck back to look at his face, more relief flooding through me.

"I can live with that."

He scans my eyes, back and forth, his hands holding my face steady.

"We all have skeletons in our closet, Harper.

You've just met one of mine."

I hated hearing that he slept with Mrs.

Scott.

She's so much older than us and married and all the guys think she's so hot—things I'm trying not to focus on, those layers will only make me feel worse.

But we all have a past and his is just much more sexual than mine.

"It doesn't change how I feel about you, but I'm pretty sure you're going to have to explain this all to my brother."

I wince at the thought of Ryan's face this morning on the way to school.

"He wants to kill you— again."

"I need to talk to Blake, too.” My eyes widen.

"Blake?"

"Every time I turn around, he's there, trying to get with you.

I've had enough of it, it needs to end or we're just going to keep fighting."

"He does seem to always be there."

His hand lowers to my hip.

"He wants you, Harper, and I can't blame the bastard, you're the hottest girl in our school."