Chapter 114


    Easton


    It fucking sucked, not having Harper at school today. I missed her something fierce. To the point that I


    turned into a growly, grumpy motherfucker who snapped at anyone who asked me a fucking question,


    including my teachers. I didn’t give a shit. Who knew I''d be so whipped for a girl that I''d turn into a


    mess when she wasn''t around? “I really hope my sisteres back to school tomorrow, ''


    Ryan says as we leave campus at the end of the day, headed for the parking lot. “Because you''re being


    a total asshole. ''


    “I don''t like it when I can’t see her, ''


    I admit, hating how I sound like aplete pussy. But fuck it. “How''d she look this morning? ''


    “Miserable. ''


    A string of curses leaves me and Ryan barks out augh. “d I didn’t tell you that this morning.


    Might’ve made you even grumpier, if that’s possible. ''


    “Hey guys. ''


    We both turn to find Sadie approaching us. When she''s close enough, Ryan swoops in, wrapping his


    arm around her shoulders and pulling her into his side, dropping a kiss on her cheek. Watching them


    only makes me miss Harper even more. I''m such a fucking sap. “I heard from Harper, ''


    she says. “She just called me. ''


    “Why didn''t she call me? ''


    Sadie’s gaze meets mine. “She said she tried you first but you didn’t pick up. She went to the doctor.


    They put her on antibiotics. ''


    “She’s legit sick, huh. ''


    Ryan shakes his head. “I figured if she was faking it. ''


    “Harper wouldn''t fake being sick. ''


    She''d want to be at school so she could see me. “I don''t know if she''ll be at school tomorrow either. ''


    Sadie winces, as if she’s preparing herself for the blow that is my wrath at hearing this. “Just thought I''d


    warn you, E. ''


    Ignoring her, I reach into my back pocket and pull out my phone to see that yep, I have missed calls


    from my girl. I immediately call her back. “Hey, ''


    I say when I hear her soft greeting. “How are you feeling? ''


    “Terrible. ''


    She sniffs loudly. “Now I’m congested. ''


    “You sound bad. ''


    “Gee thanks. ''


    “Sadie said you''re on antibiotics. ''


    “One of those five day Z—pack things. I''ll be fine, ''


    she says, sounding anything but. “My throat is still killing me. Doctor said it’s going around and


    prescribed some cough syrup for me too. Mom says it’s because I’m too busy and doing too much. ''


    “You need rest, ''


    I tell her, thinking of all the things I could do for her to make her feel better. “And lots of fluids. ''


    “Okay, Dad, ''


    she jokes. “Don''t ever call me that, ''


    I growl, turning away from Ryan and Sadie so they can’t hear me. “Unless you''re into that ‘daddy’ thing.


    I might be down for that. ''


    “Easton, ''


    she groans, just before she starts coughing. “Stop. ''


    “Babe. You need to go back to bed. ''


    “Lam in bed. ''


    “Well, take it easy then. ''


    I soften my voice. “I''m d your mom took you to the doctor. I just want you better so I can see you. I


    miss you. ''


    “You don’t want to see me right now. I look awful. ''


    “You''re always beautiful to me. ''


    “And I''m contagious. ''


    “I''m not scared. ''


    She’s quiet for a moment. “You''re really not, are you. ''


    “Hell no. ''


    I pause. “I love you. Now go take a nap. ''


    “I love you too. Bye. ''


    I turn back to Ryan and Sadie to see they’repletely making out in the middle of the parking lot. I


    clear my throat, which causes them to pull away from each other, Ryan ring at me. “Go with me to


    the store. ''


    They both frown. “Why? ''


    Ryan asks warily. “I need to grab stuff for Harper to make her feel better. ''


    I shove my hands in my front pockets, feeling... don’t know. Bashful? What the fuck? “I need help


    picking out some things. ''


    Sadie grins. “This is right up my alley. I''ll totally help you. ''


    “I thought we were going back to my house, ''


    whines to her. “My parents are gone. ''


    “Harper is there. Sick. In the bedroom next to yours. I’m not having sex with you in your bed when


    she’s lying there miserable, listening to every single thing we do and say. ''


    She mock shudders. I can’t help butugh. The first time I''veughed all day. When I see Ryan''s


    annoyed expression, Iugh a little louder. “Come on. Help a bro out. ''


    “Fine, ''


    Ryan mutters. “Let’s go. ''


    We end up at a shopping center not too far from where Ryan and Harper live. There''s a supermarket


    and a CVS there, which should cover all the basic necessities I want to pick up for my sick girlfriend. I


    buy her a giant ass bag of cough drops and her favorite candy at CVS, plus a cute little stuffed white


    cat Sadie says Harper will love. At the supermarket, I pick up some of their chicken nocdle soup from


    the deli that’s freshly made, plus a container of her favorite cookies. Sadie is helping me out every step


    of the way, eager to spend all my money to make her best friend happy, but I don’t mind. Anything to


    put a smile on my girl''s face. We''re picking out balloons and flowers when Ryan ps me on the back.


    “Don’t make it obvious, but look to your right. ''


    Slowly I nce over to find Aisha standing in the produce section, examining a banana, her gaze going


    to us every few seconds. “What the fuck is she doing here? ''


    I haven''t really seen her all day, which is just the way I like it. And I''m surprised, considering Harper


    wasn''t at school. I assumed Aisha would be all over me. “Following us? ''


    Sadie suggests. “Doubtful. ''


    This is from Ryan. But I don''t know... "Why does she keep caressing the banana? ''


    Sadie giggles. “Maybe that’s all she can get now that she’s scared off every guy at school. ''


    “Don''t think ke''s scared, ''


    I say. “I bet she wants to stroke his banana. And that asshole will dly let her. ''


    “Gross, ''


    Sadie calls, so loudly that Aisha tantly stares at us. “Yeah, I''m talking about you. ''


    “Sadie, ''


    Ryan groans, but I don’t think she cares. Aisha drops the banana and makes her way over to us, a


    sneer on her face. “Where’s your girlfriend? ''


    she asks me. “None of your damn business, ''


    Ryan snaps, defending his sister. “He''s talking for you now? ''


    Aisha nods toward Ryan. “He''s just answering your question. Because he’s right. It’s none of your


    damn business, ''


    I say, my voice calm. My hands though, are clenched into fists. I would love to punch her, just like Ryan


    suggested, but he’s right. She''d call the cops on me and my ass would get arrested. And truly, I’m not


    one tomit violence against women. With the exception of her. I''d choke her out if I could get away


    with it. “Tell Harper I hope she gets well soon, ''


    Aisha croons as she walks away. What a minute. How did she know Harper is sick?? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.