Filed to story: You’re Mine Read Online Free
I take a final look at myself in the mirror, knowing the minute I get downstairs, my family is going to want pictures.
They’re all heremy brothers and their girls, aunts and uncles, everyone coming to the auditorium to watch me walk across the stage.
Being the youngest, I know this is a big deal for my parents, so that’s why I don’t lose my patience when I join them downstairs and pose in every fucking direction while they snap a million pictures of me.
And since some of my family hasn’t seen me since I decided to go to UCLA, I accept the small digs they shoot in my direction for being the rebel of the family and not going to Stanford like the others.
Whatever, I can handle it.
In fact, bring it on.
I don’t want to be like my brothers.
I don’t want to get into law.
I want to be my own person and go my own direction and kick ass ina way that isn’t expected of me.
And by some fucking miracle, the people I was most worried about Mom and Daddidn’t kill me over my decision.
Sure, they wanted Stanford.
Sure, they’re a bit salty about it.
But they accepted UCLA and they’re even hooking me up with something huge for my first year there something I haven’t told Harper yet, but I’m going to surprise her with it later.
Damn it, I can’t wait to see her face when I tell her the news.
That’s what has me smiling as I take some final pictures with my brothers.
Once the photoshoot is over, my parents approach me just as I’m getting ready to leave.
“We’re so proud of you, honey,” my mother says, kissing my cheek.
“We know you worked so incredibly hard this year and your grades couldn’t have made us happier.”
This definitely isn’t the moment where I bring up Leigh and her help with that.
Nah, that secret is going to my grave.
But I pulled my shit together and I got the grades I needed to and that’s all that matters.
“Thanks, Momand thanks for being cool with my decision over UCLA’ She adjusts my tie as my father says,
“Are you sure I can’t convince you to go to Stanford?”
He’s holding his phone and shakes it in his hand.
“A quick email is all it’ll take and I can tell them you’ve changed your mind and”
“No, Dad.” I know this is the lawyer in him.
He doesn’t stop until he wins.
But he’s not going to win this and his eyes tell me he’s accepting that fact.
“I’m happy with where I’m going.” He nods.
“I understand, son.
But I had to try one last time.”
“I’ll see you both at graduation,” I tell them, and I say goodbye to the rest of my family and hurry outside to my Jeep.
When I get to the auditorium, minutes before we line up, I find Harper in the crowd.
I’ve been thinking about when I want to give her this gift and knowing we’re not anywhere near each other in line, this feels like the right time.
Her hair is down and curled and her lips are glossy, just like I love.
I’m not sure what she’s wearing underneath, but she looks gorgeous in her gown.
“Hi,’ she whispers, clasping her hands with mine.
“] was hoping you’d come find me before we walk across the stage.” She takes a deep breath.
“I’m so nervous.”
“Nervous? Why, baby?”
She shrugs.
“It’s just a huge deal and my family is here and it feels like the whole world is watching andyou know, all the things.” I give her a kiss, holding our faces together before I reach into my pocket and pull away.
“Don’t worry about it, it’s gonna go great.”
“I know …
I’m just a wreck.”
“Maybe this’ll make you feel better.” I place the small box on her palm.
Her eyes widen as she looks at it.
“You got me a gift? But I didn’t get you anything and”
“It’s not like that.
Just open it.” She lifts the flap of the hack wrapping job I’d done and pulls the rest of the paper off, slowly opening the lid of the box.
I can see confusion on her face as she takes out the key and holds it in her hand.
“My parents rented me an apartment off campus.”
I smile.
“That’s your key.” The confusion is gone and is now replaced with excitement, especially as she throws her arms around my neck.
“Oh my God, Easton.
Your own place.”
“Our own place.
Where we won’t have to sneak around.
Where we can be as loud as we want.” I hold her tighter.
She releases a quiet moan.
“Oh.
Hell.
Yes.” I laugh.
“I know you’re going to be in the dorms, but I want you to stay with me as much as you can.
I want you to think of the apartment as home.” She bites her lip.
“You’re my home.” God, I’m in love with her.
There isn’t anyone who’s more perfect for me.
“And you’re mine, Harper.” The moment is interrupted as one of the teachers yells,
“Line up, everyone, we’re starting.” I slap her ass and say,
“Go.
I’ll see you after.” She giggles and gives me one last kiss and hurries to the front of the line where her and Ryan have been positioned.
Being farther back, I’m able to watch her enter the front of the stage, waiting by the stairs to be called.
The moment the principal announces Harper Quinn, she climbs up the few steps and walks across the stage.
She hugs the teachers who are standing there before she approaches our principal and accepts her diploma.
For a quick photoop, she poses in the center of the stage.
A smile covers her beautiful face and there’s relief in her eyes.
I see so much love flooding through that girl.
Love that she gives me.
Love that I can’t live without.
As she’s walking down the steps to find her seat, our eyes lock and I mouth,
“I love you, baby.” She grins in response.
And it’s more than enough.
Harper
“How did Ryan score us this bottle?”
I ask Sadie as she fills our glasses again, the bottle now almost gone.
“I promised him a blow job.” She laughs.
“And don’t worry, I have another bottle in my bag, so we’re not even close to running out.” I groan as I roll over in my bed, trying not to spill all over my blanket.
“You could have spared me that detail.” She rolls onto her back as well, both of us looking up at my ceiling.
“You know, one day you’re going to have to get used to talking about this kind of stuff.” I shake my head.
“Nope.”
“Yes.” I feel her eyes on me.
“Because if I’m going to hear all the juicy details of you and Easton, especially what’s about to go down in his new apartment, then it’s only fair you hear about Ryan.” I wince at the thought.
“Then, can you change his name? Call him Michael or Greg or something, so I don’t have to deal with the visual that makes me want to gag?”
“You’re ridiculous.”
“And that’s why you love me.” There’s a few moments of silence while she takes a drink and then sighs.
“You know what I’m not looking forward to?”
“What’s that?”
Her voice softens,
“Missing you.” I sit up, resting my back against the wall, draping my legs over hers.
“The thought about kills me.”
“It’s far, Harp.
Like faaaar.” She’s talking about the distance between the two schools, something I’ve looked up more times than I can count.
The miles are drivable, of course, seven hours and change is totally possible, but we won’t be in the same town, like we are now.
We won’t be minutes away.
We’re going to have to rely on Facetime and texts and phone calls.
And the thought of that makes me so sad.
“I know,’ I whisper, guzzling down more of my wine, the reality of our situation eating at me.
“And if I’m being honest, I hate it.”
“Me too.”
“I wish we were all going to the same college.” She leans up on her elbow, resting her face against her palm.
“But you know UCLA was never my thing just like Chico State isn’t yours.”
“True, but once we leave, it’s going to be Thanksgiving until I see you?” She nods.
“Unless I can convince Ryan to do a road trip to visit you guys sooner, which is totally possible, he’ll do anything for a blow job.” I cover an ear with my only free hand.
“Different name! Remember?” She laughs.
‘I’ll work on itpromise.”
“Easton’s going to have a car too, so maybe we can come visit you.
I know he’s going to miss Ryan like crazy, so I doubt it’ll take much convincing.”
“What about Blake?”
she asks.
“Do you think he’s going to be part of the group once he takes off? I know he’s leaving soon.” I shrug.