Page 160 of Give Me Love

“Let’s leave,” I say.

“Umm, Kat,” she says, looking behind me. I swivel around.

What is he doing?

I take in the sight before me. Bryce has grabbed the mic from the DJ. I can tell by his sway he’s still messed up from earlier. Did he not sleep it off? Or has he had more?

“Good evening,” he says in jeans and a gray long-sleeved shirt that’s rucked at the elbows, showing off his ink and his watch. He looks like trouble mixed with a side of beautiful. Even in this state, Bryce Grant makes my heart skip.

And I hate him for it.

The music stops, and everyone looks his way. “Sorry to interrupt your night, but I need to get something off my chest.” He looks to me, and my throat becomes bone dry.

“I’ve always had one rule in my life,” he says, holding up his index finger. “Never fall for someone.” His eyes leave mine. “Because you see, once you do that, you become dependent upon that person. You want them there when shit gets tough. You want them there when something good happens and everything in between, you know?”

I look around, mortified.

“Yeah, well, I broke my one rule, and the woman I fell for won’t talk to me.” He scratches the thick stubble on his face.

OH MY GOD. I tried to talk to you, asshole.

“Oh, grow some balls,” someone yells.

Bryce looks out at the idiot, his eyes narrowing, his jaw ticking.

“Yeah,” he agrees. “How about I do this instead? Club Red is offering free drinks tonight because the owner has lost his shit.”

“Except for you, motherfucker.” Bryce points to the guy who told him to grow some balls. The guy lifts his hands in a what-did-I-do gesture but walks off and I’m grateful. I can’t deal with a fight tonight even though I feel like that’s what’s about to happen between us. It’s amazing how fast a bar can clear out, and I stand on the once crowded dance floor alone with Claire, watching a man who, like he just said, has lost his mind.

He drops the microphone and jumps down from the stage, walking over to me. Claire moves back, and I see Austin standing near. I look to them for some kind of help here, but then I feel him.

“You’re an idiot,” I say.

“Tell me something I don’t know,” he replies.

“You just cost your club a lot of money.”

“I’d give it all if it meant I’d have one minute alone with you.”

I shake my head as a lump forms in my throat. “You’re not an idiot,” I reply. “You’re insane.”

The pain that shows on his face reflects what I’m feeling. “I’m sorry,” he says, reaching for my hands.

I step back, disgusted. “I hate that word.”

“Why, baby?” he asks.

“Because I’ve heard it so many times, it’s become meaningless.” I step back more. “You can’t just walk in here and demand to talk to me now.”

“I didn’t just come in here. I’ve been here for a while, actually.”

“So what, you’ve been watching me?” I ask, crossing my arms over my chest. “That’s not creepy.”

He narrows his eyes at me before looking toward the door, and I see Ben standing there. Bryce nods at him, and then eyes I melt in look back to me. They scan down my body, and anger paints over sadness. “The fuck you wearing that short-ass dress for?”

“Excuse me?”

“You don’t dress like that normally, K. Don’t act like I’m insulting you. You had every sick fuck in this place looking at you.”

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