Chapter 52

Chapter 52

Harper

Easton whirls around when he feels me touch his arm, his blue eyes

widening in surprise that I'm the one standing next to him. Confusion

fills his gaze and he glances toward Blake, who I was with only seconds

ago.

I couldn't take it anymore, pretending Blake was a sufficient substitute.

And it definitely didn't feel right with his arm around my shoulders, as if

he was trying to claim me when he’s not the one I want.

That's why I ran to Easton. It killed me, witnessing the agony on his face

while Blake yelled at him. My brother may be watching us, as well as

the rest of the entire school, but I don't care.

I want to be with Easton.

But does he want to be with me?

“Say it,” I whisper, fear gripping me. “If you can't tell my brother you

want to be with me, I can't keep doing this.”

He blinks at me, his lips parting and my heart stalls in my throat.

What if he tells Ryan he doesn't want to be with me? What then?

“Get your pretty ass over here, Harper!” Blake bellows. “Show that

asshole who vou really want!”

“Shut the hell up, Blake!” Ryan yells.

A trickle of relief flows through me at my brother's words, but Easton

still hasn't said a damn word.

Dread curdling in my stomach, I stand a little taller.

“What'll it be?” I ask, my voice low so no one else can hear me. “Do you

want to be with me? Because I refuse to be your dirty little secret.”

“Harper.” He breathes out my name, taking a step closer, and I don't

retreat. He reaches up to lightly touch my face and my eyes fall shut,

savoring the sensation of his fingers on my skin.

He immediately drops his hand and I open my eyes, watching as he

looks over at Blake, who's positively fuming, and then my brother. His

two closest friends, yet here I am, like I'm coming in between all of

them.

“Ryan, I can't let Harper walk out of my life,” Easton says, his voice

strong. Everyone can hear him. “I just-1 can't. I care about your sister a

lot.”

My heart swells as he sends me an unsure look, his expression —

petrified. I grab his hand and pull him to me, his arms automatically

going around my waist as he kisses me.

In front of everyone.

The entire parking lot.

Hell, probably the entire school.

The kiss is hard, as if he's proving a point, and in a way, I guess he is.

“What the actual fuck?” Ryan yells.

“Finally!” Sadie squeals.

“Fuck you, Easton!”

This comes from Blake.

I don't care what anyone is saying. I'm wrapped up in Easton's arms and

he's so warm despite the rain. His kiss is drugging, lulling me into a

trance with every stroke of his tongue. Until I finally have to pull away

before things become too heated, noting the dazed look on his face.

I'm sure I look exactly the same way.

“You said it,” I murmur. “You told my brother.”

“I can't lose you.” Leaning in, he presses his forehead to mine, staring

into my eyes. “And you're not my dirty little secret.”

My smile is huge. I can feel it stretching my lips as I slip my arms

around his neck and

tangle my fingers into his damp hair. “Oh my God.”

Before I can say anything else, he kisses me again, ending it quick when

Ryan screams a string of curse words. My brother storms off, Sadie

right on his heels as she calls his name. Easton keeps his arms around

me as we both turn toward Blake.

He's staring at us, his face red, his eyes blazing with fury.

“Such fuckin’ bullshit and you know it. You just hate to lose.” Blake

thrusts his finger at us. “He's going to use you up and spit you out,

baby girl. And when it's all said and done, don’t bother running back to

me, looking for comfort. The only thing I'll say to you is, “I told you so'.”

“Blake-"I start to pull away from Easton, but he tightens his grip on me,

not allowing me to chase after him.

“Let him go,” he tells me, pressing his mouth to my temple as Blake

jumps into his truck and starts the engine. “He'll get over it.”

“I never meant to hurt him.” Sadness fills me, along with a giant dose of

regret. This isn't how I imagined it would go down between us. Not

even close. “He probably thinks I was using him.”

Easton glances down at me, his brows rising. “Were you?”

I shake my head. “No. Of course not. He was always so kind to me.”

Funny. Flirty. I didn't understand Blake's sudden interest. Like he almost

knew Easton and I had a secret thing going, though I don’t know how

he could. “He never really started talking to me until after you and I-”

I clamp my lips shut, not wanting to explain myself any further.

The irritated look on Easton's face tells me he understands. “He knew

you were vulnerable. He could sense it.” He inhales sharply, his cheeks

turning ruddy. “Like a damn predator.”

“Oh come on, Easton.” I laugh, but it's shaky. “You're exaggerating.”.

He turns to me, about to speak, but someone catches his attention.

Aisha

She's watching us along with the rest of the crowd, Julia beside her.

They both have looks of utter disgust on their faces and when our

gazes meet, Aisha’s eyes narrow, her lips thinning into a straight line.

Never looking away from her, I curl my hand around his nape and pull

him down to me, our mouths meeting briefly. I want this bitch to know

that Easton isn't hers.

He's mine.

Fuck her.

“Let's get out of here,” Easton says once the kiss is over.

“Okay.” 1 nod and smile as we pull out of each other's arms. He takes

my hand, interlacing our fingers together and he brings our linked

hands to his mouth, brushing a kiss across my knuckles.

I can still feel Aisha watching. I actually see her lunge toward us, but

Julia grabs her at the last second, stopping her.

And I can't help but smile.

Take that, bitch

We leave the school in Easton's jeep and I'm trying to text Ryan, but he

won't respond.

Of course he won't. I'm sure he's furious with me. With Easton. Maybe

even Blake.

“Who are you texting?”

“Ryan, but he’s not answering me.”

Exhaling loudly, Easton grips the steering wheel. “He'll get over it.”

“I wish I had your confidence.” I send a text to my best friend, who

immediately responds. “Okay. Sadie says she's with Ryan, trying to calm

him down.”

“Thank God for best friends.”

glance up, looking out the window. “Where are we going?”

“I was thinking your place? Like we planned?” When I don't respond, he

asks, “You okay with that?”

Fighting the nerves that suddenly fill me, I murmur, “Yes. Definitely.”