Page 120 of Give Me Love

She tilts her head a tad as she studies me again. “Are you just friends with my son? Or…?”

This time I feel stupid. “Oh, uh, yeah… I’m his girlfriend.” I feel my cheeks redden. Obviously, she knows nothing about us because her son apparently never mentioned me.

That doesn’t make me feel any type of way. And I have no idea who she is either because Bryce told me she’d gotten beat up, but never mentioned the part where she lived with him. Or stayed…or what the hell ever.

Where’s Lou, anyway?

“Oh.” She nods her head and fidgets with the bottom of her sweater. I find myself nodding my head, too, as I look around. Placing my fingers down on the counter, I pull my sleeves over my palms.

Say something, dummy. This is sooo awkward.

I clear my throat. “So, what’s cooking?”

Her eyes shoot to mine, likethank God you saved this weird-ass moment. She smiles and walks over to the cookbook on the countertop. “It’s a Southwestern casserole. I know Bryce is a very healthy boy, but I’m hoping he’ll try it.”

“It smells great. I’m sure he’ll eat it.”

“I hope he’ll be home soon. It’ll be ready in five minutes.”

Now I feel like I’m intruding, and the awkwardness starts again. If I can’t get along with his mom, then how in the hell is this going to work? I could tell when he spoke of her she meant something to him… like most moms do to their kids. Not mine, but most people.

“You cook often?” I ask.

“Oh, I used to back when…” She stops herself and puts a stray hair behind her ear. “Well, I used to when the boys were kids. It’s been a while. I’m glad to be back doing it.”

I smile. “Yeah, my best friend, Claire, loves to cook. She’s actually a chef at a new restaurant a few blocks from here.”

“Oh, really? That’s great. It’s so important to do what you love.”

“Yes,” I agree with a smile.

See, that wasn’t so bad. We’re making progress.

We both turn when the door opens and in walks none other than Jace. Wow, it’s a family affair. Where the heck is Bryce?

“Harrison,” he says, looking at me, and then his eyes go to her.

His face turns pale, and he looks thrown off. “Mom?”

It comes out in a rushed breath.

I look between the two.

He slightly shakes his head and runs a hand over it. His eyes narrow like he isn’t sure what he’s seeing.

I’m totally confused.

Did he not know she was here either?

“Jace, my boy,” she says and runs over to him with a hand over her mouth. He looks completely stunned when she throws her arms around him, and his eyes go to me before looking down at the floor. He doesn’t put his arms around her but stands there like Christ the Redeemer.

As if he dares touch her, she’ll be real.

Pain shows on his face, but then something I’ve yet to see takes over.

Anger. Pure, utter anger.

He steps back from her. “What are you doing here?”

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