Chapter 195
Harper
"I feel like this is enough food to feed our entire senior ss,’ Sadie snorts as she drives away from
McDonald''s, our final stop for the boys.
That''s after we already picked up the pizzas and added severalrge fries and a few more burgers to
the order, knowing they''re probably drunk and most definitely high and will eat more than they''ve asked
for.
“You know our men, they''re endless pits of hunger.” “Ain''t that the truth.” She turns at the light, heading
for ke''s neighborhood, one that''s just as nice as Easton''s.
“When does ke leave again, like a few days, right?” “Girl, he''s leaving tomorrow, that''s why they
need to get it all done today.
Once he''s packed, the boys are going to load it all into ke''s car, and we''re going to party tonight,
and then ke will take off in the moming.” “Damn.” She shakes her head.
"This is all happening so fast.” “You''re telling me,’ I say as she begins to slow for the stop sign.
I nce at her.
"You know ...
we''re next.” “Don''t go there, we still need to shop and pack and have fun this summer.
We have some time before we take off."
She''s right.
We have the whole summer, ke is just going early to San Diego.
But I''m d we''re not heading to UCLA until freshman orientation, which is in a couple months.
I need more time with Sadie and I need more time with Ryan.
And I need time to unwind from thest few months of school and prepare my brain for all the hard
work I have ahead of me.
How I''m going to bnce Dean''s List—something my schrship requires me to maintain—with
Easton and partying and college fun.
I know I can do it.
It''s just going to take a lot of focus when I suddenly have so much freedom.
“You know what''s one of the best things about this summer, I say.
She turns onto ke''s street.
"What''s that?"
“Mom and Dad have dropped my curfew."
“Whaaaat?” I smile.
“It was a surprise to me, too.
They just told me tonight when you picked me up.
I asked Mom what time I needed to be home and she said she''d spoken with Dad and they decided not
to give me a time anymore.” “oh my God, the trouble we''re about to get in.” I grab her arm.
“Let''s not, I just got the shackles taken off, I don''t want my parents to put them back on.
And they will—like in three seconds.” Sheughs.
“True.” She pulls into ke''s driveaway.
"The smell of this food is making me so hungry.” “I''m sure they''ll share,’ I say and climb out of the car,
bncing the pizzas and McDonald''s bags on my palms.
"Here”—she holds out her hands—‘“give me something, you don''t have to carry it all.” I shake my head.
"Just get the door, I''m fine.” We go up the walkway and up the front steps, knocking on ke''s door.
“Are his parents’ home?"
I ask Sadie.
She shrugs.
"No idea.
I don''t see their cars, but they have an eight— car garage or something, I doubt they park in the
driveway.” “Try ringing the bell,” I say after another knocking attempt.
She presses the button and we can hear the bell go off inside, the double chimes that echo through the
entryway.
When a few minutes goes by, I say, “Where are the boys?” I look toward the driveway where Easton''s
jeep is parked with Ryan''s car and ke''s.
“They have to be here.” “I''m sure they are, but the house is so big, they probably can''t hear the
doorbell.” She reaches for the handle, pressing down on the toptch, and the door pops open.
"Do you think it''s okay if we just go in?” I''ve only been to ke''s house a few times, each asion he
answered the door.
I''ve definitely never just let myself in before.
“I think so, I tell her.
“They know we''reing over, they gave us a food order, so it should be fine.” She takes a step
inside, looking in both directions before she nces back at me.
"Should we bring the food up to them or leave it down here and we''ll eat in the kitchen?” "I say bring it
upstairs.
N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.
If I remember correctly, there''s a bar up there where I''m sure they have paper towels and drinks.”
"Perfect."
She closes the door behind us and takes the McDonald''s out of my hands, leading us to the massive
staircase that wraps around the entire living room.
When we''re past the first few steps, I say, "Maybe they''re passed out.
Knowing them, they had a ton to drink.” “Oh God, I didn''t even think of that."
We hurry up the rest of the staircase and down the long, windy hallway toward ke''s wing, where he
has his own sitting area and bathroom, he even has a massive balcony that overlooks the pool.
We''re rounding the corner toward his sitting room and that''s when we hear the screaming.
"I''M GOING TO FUCKING MURDER YOU.” I freeze from the sound of it, the voice so loud and angry
and gritty, I can''t tell which of the boys it''sing from.
“What the fuck?"
Sadie whispers next to me, her eyes wide.
I take a deep breath and swallow.
“I don''t know...” "Easton!"
I hear ke shout.
“I''m fucking sorry!” "Oh God,” I groan as I realize what we''re hearing.
"They''re fighting, this is going to get ugly.” I ce the pizza on the couch, Sadie drops the McDonald''s
next to it, and we run to the back where ke''s room is located.
We get to the doorway and I see ke on the floor, Easton''s hands are around his neck, and Ryan is
holding ke''s legs, stopping him from kicking or moving.
"I don''t give a fuck if you''re sorry; Easton yells, rearing his arm back, his fingers clenched in a fist, like
he’s seconds away from punching ke.
"Easton!"
I shout.
When he doesn''t look up or acknowledge me, I scream, “Easton,” again.
It finally registers and he nces up at me.
His jaw is clenched, his eyes are filled with anger.
I''ve seen him mad.
But I''ve never seen him like this.
“What are you doing?” I gasp.
“What''s going on?” “Harper, he growls, “get out of here.” I don''t understand.
I don''t know why he''s asking me that.
“Easton, no—"
“Harper, he says again, cutting me off, "get the fuck out of here, I don''t want you to see this.” I don''t
know why, but my eyes suddenly fill with tears."See what?” "See me kill ke.”