Page 125 of Give Me Love

“Only if you make it that way. Believe it isn’t and it simply isn’t. You decide what you feel.”

She looks over at me. “Who are you? You decide what you feel?” She laughs. “What kind of bullshit is that? You can just turn your emotions off that easily?”

“You can’t?” I ask because I’ve witnessed her do that exact thing.

She shakes her head as the doors slide open and we make our way through the lobby.

I stop when we approach the car, trying to calm down my caveman. I don’t want her to think I’m a prick all the time. “Look,” I say, turning toward her. “This is what I want. You, I mean. Do you want me, too?”

“Yes.” She bites her bottom lip.

“Okay then. None of that other shit matters.” I reach over and open the door. “Now, let’s go home.”

“Okay,” she says softly before climbing into the car.

I shut the door and walk around. Climbing in, I start the car and flip my blinker on, but before I check my mirror, I look over at her. She’s the calmness in all the chaos going on around us. I lean over and kiss her lips quickly. She bites her grin and her cheeks turn pink, and I’d like to see her under me with that exact look. I turn out onto the busy street and head home with my girl.

_____________

Kathrine

Warm water makes me feel like heaven when I step into the bathtub and sink down. My eyes take in the vast city with all of its lights. Reaching up, I tighten my hair tie, realizing pieces of hair have fallen down and are now wet.

“Oh well,” I say, leaning back and looking out the enormous bathroom window wall.

Yes. The gigantic wall of windows. In the bathroom. That you can look out of while bathing. It’s insane.

Bubbles cover my body from being seen, and a soft bath pillow rests behind my head as candles twinkle around me like the lights before me.

I think about how the day has gone, from finding the knife to crying with Claire and then meeting Bryce’s mom for the first time without him even being there.

I roll my eyes but then think about the argument between Jace and Bryce.

Two broken brothers who’ve only had each other. I’m sure this isn’t their first fight, and I’m sure it won’t be their last.

I sigh contently as I shut my eyes, and the first thing I see is Bryce. That man drives me wild. He’s calm when everything seems crazy. He makes me feel wanted and protected. My chest swells, and I smile.

My eyes pop open, and I sit up just a tad. “Holy shit,” I say as realization hits me. “I love this guy.” My hand goes to my face as I lean back and smile, my eyes going to the bubbles. My heart beats a little faster, and I look to the windowas a tap sounds on the door.

“K?” Bryce says.

“Yeah?” I answer.

“Can I come in?”

“Yeah.”

“The door is locked.”

“Oh, right.” I sit up and hop out, grabbing a towel and wrapping it around me as I walk to the door to unlock and open it.

“Everything okay?” I ask, knowing I’m soaking the floor.

“Everything’s fine.” He steps in, causing me to step back. He looks over at the tub and then at me. “Feel okay?”

“Yes.”

He nods, his eyes going down my towel-covered body, and I’m a whole different kind of wet when I catch that look.

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