Easton. I feel her everywhere. And then when I think I’m lost in a mixture of love, lust, and all my feelings-I shove all thoughts of Leigh away and focus this on Harper. On her love. The way she looks at me despite the war I may have just started. “This feels amazing …” Harper pushes back against me, her ass is so luscious that I almost want to laugh, who would be tempted by Leigh, I mean unless they want to pump into a flat ass body. No. Give me the curves. Give me this girl. I dig my fingers into her skin, jamming her back against my dick as we fly high together. Too many things happen at once. I feel her clench around me and I know I’m not going to last, and it’s not because of the guilt-it’s this girl, her trust, and her ability to get me to open up to her when I’ve never done that. Ever. I grip her ass, my fingers digging into her hips driving forward as her back arches. Her dark hair sticks to her cheeks as she moves with me. She’s so sexy and she doesn’t even realize it. She drives me crazy. Soft cries turn into moans as she clenches around my dick pulling me deeper, harder. I feel myself slipping as I reach down and rub her clit, the sound of my balls slamming against her should sound rough and possessive, instead it feels like a claiming. I love it. I bite down on my lower lip as she grips the sheets and cries out, I shove her head against the mattress again, I can see her lips part in ecstasy and I can’t stop the way! release into her, making sure every inch of her body is fucking owned by me. I want her to walk down the street and smell like me. I want every fucking person in this universe to know that I’m hers, that she’s mine and I don’t even give a shit who knows. Fuck, I love her so much and I now that Ryan has every right to punch me in the dick but this girl, she owns me. I’m suddenly so thankful that things happened the way they did, me finding her and kissing her in the dark-funny how in those moments of dark touching, kissing-she brought me light-she set me free. I love her. I don’t say it out loud as our bodies both come down from the high we just experienced. We‘re both shaking and I can’t help but think I really have changed. Before I cared about what people thought maybe more than I should. But right now? I have her. But who cares about all the other bullshit when I have her?. Who cares if Aisha’s a psychopath?. Who cares that Blake has it in his head to sabotage everything when we both know our truth? When me and Harper get each other. I see her and she sees me. And I want so badly to have that conversation again, to make sure she’s secure in what we have even though it’s early, even though we started backward with kissing and sex and not forward with private conversations and flirtations. If I could go back. She shudders as I collapse nex t to her and stare up at the c eiling. The guilt is different . now. More pai nful. Because I should have seen her a long time ago and the fact that I was even thinking of going off with Leigh to protect her–makes mome nts like this feel like I’m still hiding my whole self from Harper

She collapses agains t my chest running h er nails up and down. Does she li ke to paint her nails? . What’s h er favori te pizza? . Movie? . What annoys her about Ryan?. Hell, what annoys he r about me? . My heart pounds as I reach blindly for her hand and squeeze it. “Are you sure you’re okay?” she asks. “I am now. ” I kiss her fingertips. “Are you a freak?”. “W-what?” She tries to move away. I laugh and turn to her, sucking each finger until I ask, “Are you one of those crazy people who likes pineapple on their pizza?”. Her face goes from serious to irritated as she tries to shove me away. I laugh. “Nooooo c’ mere, I just need to know these things!” . “You scare d me!” . “Don’t be scared. ” I kiss her mouth, whispering against her lips. “You have me, what do you have to be scared about except your parents catching us and grounding you for life or Ryan hearing six of the screams you just yelled against the palm of my hand. “You counted ?” She shoves at me again. “I was proud, who wouldn’t?” I tease. “But seriously…” Our eyes lock, God she’s pretty . “Pineapple? Yes or no. Don’t let me down. She tilts her chin up at me and sniffs in that sexy haughty way m e and my heart have gotten addicted to. “I like pineapple you jack ass … if that’s a deal breaker, you know where your clothes are …” . 1 pinch her ass. “I like pinea pple too, so guess we’re both f reaks. ” I cup her ass again and . whisper, “I’m gonn a claim the fuck o ut of this … soon. “I trust you,” she says. “So wh at about you? Favorite pizza, n o, wait for it, favorite food?” . I laugh and flip her onto her back then nuzzle her neck and move my way down until my lips ar e grazing her hip bones. “I’d have to say you. She shoves my head. “Real f ood, dumbass. “This right here. ” I grip her thighs and try to pry them open as she struggles against me, laughing. “This isn’t real food? Holy fuck should I check?” I pry them open and kiss against the wetness on her thigh. “Nope, pretty sure that’s real

“You’re out of control. ” She digs her hands into my hair and tugs me close to her until our mouths touch in a whisper of a kiss. “But I’m so happy with you. I smirk. “I’m happy to o. I’ve been starving for fucking years and—” . “-Playtime is over. ” She laughs and then we’r e both laughing and rolling around in the bed until another soft knock sounds at the door. She’s naked so she br ings the covers up to her chest and pales. The door cracks open revealing Sadie and Ryan. He’s covering his eyes like he ma y not ever see again after this a nd Sadie gives Harper a thumbs up. “Um…. ” Harper looks between all of us. “Everything okay?”. “Get it. ” Sadie winks. “Yeah, got in a fight with the parents, needed a place to go and you weren’t answering your phone…” She smirks. “Clearly busy. right Easton?”. Ryan groans. “No t hearing this, n ot hearing this…” . “Anyways, dipshit answered his phone so here I am. “Which means,” I si t up. “Girl time and the boy has to go?” . “Affirmative. ” Sadie grins. “Sorry girl but clearly you’re um, satisfied so if you want to dress that one over there…” . Ryan makes a sound o f distress. “He’s gonna have a breakdown. Okay everyone out. ” I si gh and start moving. “Let me at least get dressed befo re you both start talking about how good I am in bed. “So. Goo d. ” Harpe r laughs. Ryan cur ses. I’m ha ppy, . All in all, the day started off ho rrible, got better, then bad again, and now blissfully, fucking happy. Minutes later I’m kissing my gi rl and leaving her with her bes t friend thinking for the first . time in weeks th at everything is gonna work out. What c ould go wrong?