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 nces toward ke, who I was with only


    seconds ago.


    I couldn’t take it anymore, pretending ke was a sufficient substitute. And it definitely didn’t feel right


    with his arm around my shoulders, as if he was trying to im 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 ke 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!” ke bellows. “Show that asshole who vou really want!”


    “Shut the hell up, ke!” 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 ke, who’s


    positively fuming, and then my brother. His two closest friends, yet here I am, like I’ming 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-I 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!”


    Thises from ke.


    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 be 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 ke.


    He’s staring at us, his face red, his eyes zing with fury.


    “Such fuckin’ bullshit and you know it. You just hate to lose.” ke 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 forfort. The only thing I’ll say to you is, ‘l told you so’.”


    “ke-“| 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 ke 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 nces down at me, his brows rising. “Were you?”


    | shake my head. “No. Of course not. He was always so kind to me.” Funny. Flirty. I didn’t understand


    ke’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 mp my lips shut, not wanting to exin 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.”


    “Ohe on, Easton.” Iugh, 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.


    Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


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


    “Okay.” I nod and smile as we pull out of each other’s arms. He takes my hand, intecing 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 thest 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 ke.


    “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.”


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


    “I was thinking your ce? Like we nned?” When I don’t respond, he asks, “You okay with that?”


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