Chapter 77

Chapter 77

Harper

I feel him inside me, all around me, the way his muscles strain and tense

like he wants to stay in this moment, in the hot tub until the end of

time.

Instead, he pulls away from me like he's about to say goodbye.

“Easton?” I cup his jaw. “What's going on?”

“That was unbelievable.” He still isn't looking at me, instead he’s

completely shut down, chest still heaving from exertion as he grabs the

towel next to the stairs, wipes his hands and picks up his phone.

What the hell?

What we shared wasn't just something-normal.

In fact nothing between has been normal since this started.

And now he's acting like every other teenage boy on the planet and

grabbing his cell phone the minute he gets off.

I'm so hurt I can't see straight.

Why can't it always be easy with him?

Why am I always doubting him?

Us?

What Aisha said about my circle of friends pounds into my skull until

my temples start to ache. I never know if she’s playing with me or if she

actually has a brain cell next to her fake extensions.

Would they even be able to coexist anyways fighting for all that space?

grab a towel and get out of the hot tub, irritated, and a bit pissed that

my body feels so good after his kisses, after his touch.

"You okay?" Easton reaches for me.

I jerk away. “Yeah, fine.”

Which in girl speak basically means, you might die tonight, he seems to

catch on though and quickly flips his phone over so I can't see the

screen which just makes me more suspicious on top of everything else.

He yawns and stretches his arms over his head, then grabs his own

towel while I put the top back on the hot tub.

A tense silence exists between us.

Tignore it and decide to just go inside the house when he grabs me by

the hand and pulls me back against him, he's warm just like the hot tub

and I feel weak because I need him, because his touch tells me that

everythings going to be okay when everything feels so messed up.

Maybe it's me.

I'm vulnerable.

And I blame him.

I love him.

I love this boy and I can't read him, because he won't open up to me

the way I need and I'm scared that if I say something I'm going to push

him away even more.

I slump against him.

“Hey,” Easton's lips are on my neck. “What's going on?”

“Things.” I shiver and hear his phone go off again and tense even more.

"Someones trying to get a hold of you.”

“Yeah but my hands are kind of busy right nowholding on to you.” He

chuckles against my neck, his lips on my skin, and I forget for a few

minutes how angry I am and how insecure I feel with him sometimes.

I relax as much as I can.

He holds me tighter. “You know I've never felt this way for anyone,

Harper..."

Do I though?

“I know." I lie.

“It's not just.” He curses. “It's not just your body, Harp. It's everything.

It's the way you fight me when you want to kiss me. It's your bravery.

It's every single smile that kills my heart and steals my soul. Harper,

you're it. You are. Even if you don't believe it, one day you will, because

one day I'll be able to prove it. You're my everything and as much as

you probably hate me half the time, I'd take that hate any day, because

it means I'm yours...and you're mine.” .

A tear slides down my cheek. “That was stupid romantic for a high

school boy.”

“I practiced,” he jokes, kissing my neck.

His phone goes off again.

With a curse, he pulls away. “Look, I have to take care of this really

quick, trust me when I say it's not a big deal ..."

I turn around.

His face is pale as he reads his texts.

His movements jerky.

Something's off.

“Everything okay?" I ask.

He looks at his screen again and shoves his phone into his pocket.

“Yeah, I'm just gonna run you home real quick then grab something by

the school, apparently in all my anger and excitement I left one of my

notebooks and one of the freshman who owes me a favor of massive

proportions picked it up...”

“Huh?” What freshman? What favor? I don't say anything else but I

want to because it's so out of the blue and why wouldn't he have said

something sooner? Doubt starts creeping in again when it comes to

Easton like it always does after we're vulnerable together.

He pulls me into his arms, his smile easy. “I'm spending the night. I

mean, if that's okay?”

“And when my parents come barging in?”

“I'll be quiet ..." He laughs. He's so gorgeous I want to cry a bit, with his

dimples, dark hair, and crystal blue eyes. He's lean but built and even

when he’s not kissing me I dream of his tongue, of the way my fingers

feel against his firm stomach, his crazy six pack on display. “You're the

loud one.”

I shove him, but also, I mean, what girl would be quiet with Easton

standing in front of them? Eating them out? Fucking them? Loving

them?

“What? It's true!” He laughs and looks at his phone again, what the

hell? “It will literally take no time, plus I can drop you off first so your

parents don't get suspicious, perfect

plan.”

“Yeah.” I decide I have no choice but to trust him even though

something doesn't feel right, I want him to communicate more but I'm

afraid of being that needy girl so I simply

say. “Okay.”

“You mean everything to me.” He whispers, kissing my forehead. His

eyes flicker then linger on mine for a few beats before he looks away

and laughs. “Don't fall asleep without me...”

“Like 1 could.” I pull him in for a hug.

I memorize the way he smells.

The way he feels.

It's right.

Everything about us is finally right, so why do I keep looking for all the

wrong? It's not fair to him, or to our relationship.

Texhale.

He smells like hot boy, spice, and rum.

And he’s mine.

Right?

- “Hurry back,” I say as we both quickly get ready.

He slaps my ass. “Where else would I rather be than by your side,

Harper?”

Good question.

I tell myself to trust him.

I tell myself to be the secure one.

And I force myself to smile the entire ride back to my house as if this is

completely normal and everything's fine, and I almost believe it. Almost,

I have nothing to worry about, right?

Because I'm his, and he's mine.

And why else would he make up a dumb excuse like a freshman kid

holding his notebook? Easton's better than that.

I trust him.

I really have no choice.

My chest hurts as his Jeep pulls away from the curb in front of my

house and I don’t know why but it feels wrong.