You’re Mine by Penny Brooks novel Chapter 86

Easton I

t's finally the last period of the day—a day that hasn't wanted to fucking end—and the teacher is writing on the board, giving me a chance to slip out my phone and shoot off some texts.

For hours I've been thinking about how I should talk to the guys about this, how I should bring us all together, and only one way makes sense.

To be straight up with them.

I check to make sure the coast is still clear, the teacher rattling off about some shit, and I start typing.

Me: Come to my house after school.

Blake: Should I bring my boxing gloves? Me: Unless you plan on mouthing off and not listening to a goddamn thing I have to say.

Blake: What do you have to say? I already know how much of an asshole you are.

Me: Just be there, dickhead.

I open the last text Ryan sent me and I type out a message to him.

Me: After school, my house.

Be there.

Ryan: I should knock your ass out for that stunt you pulled in the hallway.

That conversation we were having is far from over.

Me: It'll continue after school.

Ryan: I know.

I put my phone away and try to focus on the teacher, but I don't hear a word she's saying.

That's how the whole day has gone—waiting to get called into the office, zoning out as I think of my talk with Harper, relieved as hell that I didn't lose her, ignoring every motherfucker in the hallway who has a smart remark about my situation with Leigh.

None of the Mrs.

Scott pettiness the students are barking at me really bothers me.

They can say whatever they want, I slept with a married woman who's more than twenty years older than me, and I would have slept with her again if she hadn't cut things off.

It's definitely not the worst thing I've done.

I just don't like that the students assume I fucked her while I've been with Harper.

Out of all this, that’s the only thing that eats at me and the reason it hurts is because I know how much it kills Harper.

It makes her feel betrayed and that's the last thing I want.

The sound of the bell pulls me out of my thoughts, and I rush up from my desk.

There are two situations I need to focus on, and both happen to be parked in my driveaway the second I pull up to my house.

“Surprised you invited him,"

Ryan says, nodding toward Blake.

Ryan's just as angry at the cocksucker, but for an entirely different reason—a reason I'm going to address today.

I stand between them, glancing at both of their faces.

"I'm tired of this shit and none of us are leaving this house until everything is hashed out."

I hold the door open and each of them walk in.

I follow behind and stop at the bar.

"Beer?"

"Sure,” Blake answers, and catches the one I toss at him.

"think I'm going to need vodka for this,"

Ryan replies, and I hand him a bottle that we'll share.

"So, you didn't do it?"

Ryan says the second we're all sitting on the couch.

I shake my head.

"No, man, I swear I didn't."

I rehash the same story I told Harper and I explain everything that went down.

“I haven't fucked her since last year.

I wouldn't do that to Harper.” I stare at Ryan.

“And I wouldn't do that to you."

"Mrs.

Scott has a lot of shit on all of us."