Chapter 26


    Harper


    I can’t believe my idiot brother said that in front of Easton, or that Easton took it for that matter.


    My cheeks burn with embarrassment, because he’s not wrong is he? That’s exactly Easton’s MO and


    yet here I stand, right next to him, suddenly epting his help along with a ride home when anyone


    who knows us or knows him, would find it suspicious.


    Clearly Ryan’s pissed and I know it’s because he’s being protective which just makes me even more


    nervous over the fact that a few minutes ago Easton had his tongue in my mouth.


    And I didn’t push him away.


    I pulled him closer


    And epted his help despite his asshole tendencies.


    “Let’s go,” Easton gently grabs my arm and pulls me towards his car. I have no other option but to


    follow him especially since my punk ass brother aka my normal ride is currently trying to find a tampon


    since it’s clearly his time of the month.


    Ugh.


    Boys.


    I tuck my hair behind my ears, keep my head down, and follow Easton out into the parking lot. I know


    people are watching us. I can feel their stares burning through my back as me and Easton for the first


    time, like, ever, get in his Jeep without my brother.


    I’ve always loved his Jeep, I’ve had several fantasies where he stops by my house, picks me up, and


    asks to see me, not my brother-me. I never imagined that this would be how senior year would go, and


    my head is going to explode if any other surprises happen today-or if Easton attempts to kiss me again.


    “Get in.” Easton opens the white door and it feels like he’s letting me into his life despite my brother


    being a crazy idiot.


    I’m getting in


    Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    And it’s not Ryan who’s helping me but Easton.


    The boy who kisses me one minute, then looks ready to trip me the next.


    I gulp and crawl up into the seat, then put on my seatbelt.


    It smells like coffee and spearmint gum which just reminds of the way he tastes and how much Ryan


    will lose his shit if he finds out.


    I don’t have time to be nervous, soon enough Easton’s in the Jeep, and it’s roaring to life as he backs


    up out of his parking spot, wordless, jaw clenched, looking beautiful and pissed at the same


    time.


    I nce out the window and frown as ke watches us from the parking lot, his expression


    unreadable.


    What’s he staring at?


    The Jeep?


    Me?


    Or is he just curious like everyone else at our school?


    Ugh what a crappy day. If it wasn’t Easton, who did it? Who has that much time on their hands in the


    first ce? Embarrassment hits me fast and hard as I remember how everything fell out of my locker


    and how everyone saw.


    Andddd I still have seven months of the school year left, which means this could happen again and


    again unless we figure out who did it


    “You hungry?” Easton asks once we’re on the street.


    “Huh? What?” I frown.


    His smile is more of a smirk, devastating as he bites down on the bottom of his lip before taking a right


    towards downtown. “It’s a simple question.”


    “I don’t know if I can eat right now.” I sigh. “I want to just ”


    My voice trails off.


    I feel anxious.


    Off bnce.


    Everything seems so out of focus right now that it’s hard to breathe, it’s hard to even inhale because


    with every single breath I smell him, I feel him, and I want him.


    And I shouldn’t.


    My brother would kill both of us.


    Plus he’s an asshole, both my brother and Easton and yet I can’t stop the way my heart races every


    single time I nce over at him.


    Easton curses under his breath and turns on the music. Great my not being hungry somehow pissed


    him off. How could I ever think that this could be anything but madness between us?


    He passes my street. “What are you doing?”


    “You’re shaking.”


    “Am I?” I looked down at my hands, he’s right, I had no idea. Is that why he asked if I was hungry? I’m


    still staring at my shaking hands and my ck chipped nail polish when the Jeep turns off and he turns


    to face me, seatbelt off.


    “Who hates you?” His question catches me off guard.


    “You mean other than you?” I look around. We’re not at my house, we’re also not at a fast food


    restaurant.


    We’re at his house.


    In his driveway


    I stare up at the giant home.


    Where everything came crumbling down, where he upped his meanness past what had been normal in


    the past..


    “I don’t hate you.” He says it quietly and then he’s opening his door and mming it like his actions


    can’t help but show annoyance and hate despite what words are tumbling out of his mouth.


    Was he really not taking me home?


    Without any other choices, I get out of the Jeep and follow him inside, rolling my eyes because he


    doesn’t even turn around to see if I’m following, he just assumes that any girl with eyes and a pulse


    would dumbly jump off a cliff for him if he asked.


    I hate that I don’t even hesitate as I go through the front door and continue to follow him into his


    massive kitchen.


    I don’t ask if his parents are home-l assume they rarely are from what Ryan’s said in the past.


    It looks different without everyone partying.


    Emptier.


    Sadder.


    “It was probably one of the girls -” He pulls out a bar stool and hops onto the white granite countertop.


    “Bitches be crazy.


    I crack a smile. “Did you really just say bitches be crazy?”


    “Made youugh.” He winks.


    “You’re an idiot.”


    “Thank you.” He presses a hand to his chest and stares at me, it’s the sort of stare I always wanted


    from him, it’s also terrifying. I don’t have time to dissect it, just like I don’t have time to manage my


    feelings as he crooks his finger towards me.


    I obey


    I hate myself and him in that moment.


    I hate my weakness.


    I stop walking when I’m between his legs pressed up against the counter, he cups my face with both


    hands, his thumb brushes my top lip. “He was right you know.”


    “W-who?”


    “Ryan.” His eyes sh. “I don’t date. I fuck.”


    I flinch. “Oh.”


    “You’ve had a bad day. I’ve had a bad day…since someone


    used me of being a sociopath..” He continues rubbing my lower lip and then he dips his thumb


    inside. I bite down,


    His eyes ir to life. “Harder.”


    So I bite harder, I bite into his skin, I inflict pain and realize that his body’s confusing it with pleasure.


    “You’re not leaving untill make you feel better.” His voice is low, almost a growl before his mouth


    descends.


    And I’m lost again to my enemy.


    My brother’s best friend.


    His taste.


    My downfall.