Page 144 of Give Me Love

I imagine him as a wild teen doing stuff like this. Going too fast, riding dirt bikes, and enjoying the freedom of living far out, away from the concrete jungle and its rules.

Although I’m sure Lee had some rules of his own.

A clearing comes up, and I see a big red barn sitting on a hill. The tall grass that surrounds it sways with the wind, and there’s nothing else. Nothing but land.

Bryce turns down a small drive, and we make our way up to the barn.

He parks the car, and I look over at him. “A barn?” I question.

He laughs. “It used to be. Come on.”

I narrow my eyes but open the car door as he does, too. I walk to the front of the car, and he grabs my hand. We walk to a side door, and Bryce picks a key off his key chain and unlocks it.

“After you,” he says. I step inside and blink my eyes as I take in the enormous sunlit room. The ceiling is completely glass.

“Oh my God. What does this look like at night?”

“Amazing,” he says, looking up. I take my eyes off him and let them roam around the place. One big living room, a small kitchen over to the right, and a ladder leading up to the loft.

“Bedroom?” I ask, pointing up.

He nods. “And shower. Which I need. Make yourself at home, unless you wanna join me?” he asks playfully.

“As tempting as that sounds, I think I’ll pass, Mr. Grant.” I don’t want to have to blow dry my hair and all that before we sit down to eat later.

“Your loss, baby.” He shrugs and nearly jogs up the ladder. My heart warms at the wordbaby. He says it so casually, like it’s all he’s ever called me. I know I’ve said it a few times to him, but it hasn’t felt as natural as it just did coming out of his mouth.

I walk around, looking at everything.

“I can’t believe you have three houses,” I say, shaking my head.

He peeks over the side, and I see he’s now shirtless. “And a club.”

I roll my eyes. “You wouldn’t brag, would you?”

He laughs. “Just stating a fact, K.”

“Yeah, yeah,” I mumble under my breath as I look out the sliding doors. I couldn’t imagine growing up here. All this land. This family and the way they care for each other.

A deep sadness swells in my chest for the little girl who had none of that.

She’s still inside, protected.

I look up, thinking back on the many times I lay under my own glass ceiling, except there was no glass. Just me, the quiet sounds of nature, and millions of stars, hoping the tall grass would keep me hidden from the monster who lurked inside the house I hated.

I shake away bad thoughts and walk over to the soft leather sofa to take a seat. I’m tired from getting up early, so I kick my shoes off and rest my head on the throw pillow, thinking I’ll shut my eyes for just a moment.

Just a little bit…

It’s dark, but I hear people talking in the living room. I’m thirsty, so thirsty, but I hate going in there when he has customers over. I swallow, trying to tell myself that I don’t need anything to drink.Go back to sleep, Kat.

But my throat burns, and I just can’t take it anymore. I tiptoe to my bedroom door and quietly unlock and open it. I stick my head out, looking down the hallway.

It’s clear of people, which normally it wouldn’t be, especially on a night when he’s selling. After they stick a needle into their arm, they pass out wherever. And sometimes I have to step over them, which terrifies me, because one time a man grabbed my leg.

He pulled me down on top of him and began saying things I didn’t understand before he puked all over us both. Dad likes to keep them around because they always want more.

I creep out into the hallway and hug the wall as I walk to the kitchen.

---