Chapter 61

Chapter 61

Harper

Shit, shit, shit!

I fall over, trying to put on my shorts. Easton’s moving around the room

like the Flash, he looks at the hamper, then me, then back at the

hamper like he's afraid Ryan's going to see.

I quickly hide the hamper in my closet and shut the door.

Easton approaches, smoothing down my hair with his hands while I

adjust his shirt and try to press out the wrinkles.

We're a hot mess.

And it smells like sex in my room even though we were just messing

around. It wouldn't matter anyway.

The door’s locked, and Ryan's still pissed, so things aren't looking good.

I'm freaking the hell out when Easton opens the door. Ryan's staring

straight ahead like he can’t stand to make actual eye contact.

“Outside.” He glares. “Now.”

“Ryan...” I move toward him.

He holds up his hand for me to stop. “This is between Easton and me.”

"But-"

“Let's go.” Ryan grabs Easton and shoves him down the hall. Easton

clearly lets him, probably because he feels guilty.

I run out the door to see where Ryan's taking him.

An early grave?

The bathroom to drown him?

My heart is beating so fast I feel sick, and I'm irritated. I didn't have at

least a few minutes to process what Easton and I just did.

Oh God, I was literally on his mouth minutes ago.

The same mouth Ryan's staring at.

This is bad, so bad.

Ryan walks by my dad, who's cluelessly sitting in his chair, sipping a cup

of coffee as if Ryan killing his friends is normal. He doesn't even look

up!

They go into the backyard.

I nearly fall in an attempt to run back up the stairs. The guest room has

an outside deck that overlooks the entire backyard. I rush into the room

and unlock the door, then tiptoe across the deck and crouch down.

Easton is standing still.

Ryan's pacing in front of him.

“Hit me,” Easton says in a flat voice. “I know you want to, and you know

you'll feel better about it.”

“My sister,” Ryan growls. “I held it in because my parents were

watching, and I didn't want to be in deep shit. That's the only reason I

helped save your ass.”

I wince.

“Then hit me,” Easton says again. “As many times as you want.”

“So, you want to go to school with a broken nose?” Ryan stops pacing

and crosses his

arms.

“If that's what it takes,” Easton says. “Look, I know I broke your trust,

but if you knew the whole story.”

“Oh great, there's a fucking story now?” Ryan tugs at his short hair and

does a small circle, then faces Easton. “Okay, try me

Easton licks his lips- I wonder if he tastes me there still.

My cheeks heat as he does it again.

“She's my mystery girl.”

"The hell?” Ryan frowns. “What are you talking about?”

“Look..-" Easton looks stressed. “It was an accident at first, that time we

were over here at the pool and the power went out. It was dark, I

thought she was someone else, and then I was thankful she wasn't. I

couldn't find her after the party but couldn't stop thinking about her to

the point of complete obsession. I mean those curves and”

“Less detail would be great,” Ryan interrupts

“Sorry.” Easton smiles and looks away. “I didn't know until later that it

was her, and then I was pissed that she was your sister. Can't really get

any more off-limits.”

“Exactly.” Ryan grits his teeth.

Easton is quiet and then, “Does it matter?”

“What?” Ryan seethes.

“I said, does it matter? It happened. It's happening. I respect you, bro,

and you know ! would have never broken friend code, but some things

you just can't help, and I like her, I really, really like her.”

“You fuck and flee.” Ryan points out.

Easton spreads his arms wide. “I'm literally asking you to punch me.

Does it look like I'm running?”

“You will.”

“I won't,” Easton says, his face so serious I almost gasp.

He means it.

God, he means it.

I want to throw myself off the balcony into his arms. Instead, I wait to

see what Ryan's going to say.

Easton takes a step toward him, then another.

Ryan's still

I think everything's going to be fine when Ryan's fist goes flying, hitting

Easton right in the jaw and sending him flying toward the grass. “That's

what you get for lying to me and kissing her.”

I want to laugh, he did much more than kiss me.

“No details.” Ryan shakes his hand. “And I'm still pissed, don't think

you're forgiven.”

Blood trickles from Easton's lip, both guys are okay but look a bit

rough. “Okay.”

“It wasn't Aisha.” Ryan quickly changes subjects and holds out his hand

to Easton, who tentatively takes it and stands. “After we talked, I went

and checked it out for real. She wasn't even in town last night.”

Easton's jaw tenses. “It has to be Blake.”

“I'm glad I have such good friends,” Ryan says under his breath.

“Is it our fault your sister's actually hot and fun to be around?”

“Yeah, I think I said no details?”

Easton sighs. “Fine, but you're going to have to look into it, Blake hates

me more than you hate me.”

“That's really saying a lot.”

“Ouch,” Easton grumbles. “Hey, got any booze to put on my cut?”

“Bullshit, you just want to drink it.”

“Yeah, that too.”

“Cocksucker.” Ryan kicks the grass. “Yeah, let's go get my dad's stash.”

Ryan starts walking then calls up. “You can stop attempting to hide,

Harper, we can see you.”

I jump up. "Hmmm?"

Ryan rolls his eyes. “She's your

Easton grins up at me and says, “Promise?”

Our moment is short-lived when mom comes outside and says, “Boys,

Blake just got here. I invited him for breakfast!”

I pale.

Easton clenches his fists.

And Ryan kicks the grass again.

It's going to be a long night.