Page 169 of Give Me Love

“Good evening, Mr. Grant.”

I nod, taking another taste from my glass. I recognize her from Jace.

“Your brother hasn’t been around much. We miss him,” she says with a pout.

I smirk. “Yeah. I’ll tell him you said that.”

She smiles. “Of course, we’d love to have some fun with you, too.”

“I have a woman,” I reply.

She looks around, playing dumb. “Well, I don’t see her.”

I lean in. “She’s here,” I say, pointing to my head. “And here.” I point to my chest. “So, run along, little girl.”

She frowns, rolling her eyes before she walks off.

I look around and see Ben at the far end of the room. He nods my way, and I lift my drink.

“Look, I’m going to be out of town for a day or so. Watch out for me, okay?” I say.

“You got it, boss. Have a safe trip.”

I pat the side of his arm and walk over to Ben to inform him of my trip.

“I should go with you,” he says.

“No. You keep an eye out for things here. I’ll be fine. Any word on Cain?”

“Nope.”

I nod. “Good.”

“Kathrine going with you?” he asks.

“She’s already gone.”

“Everything okay?”

“It will be.” I put the cigar out in the ashtray and sip the last drop of my drink. “I’ll see ya.”

“Have a safe trip.”

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Kathrine

Frosty windows make it hard to see outside of the small diner, and after I put my coat on and wrap my scarf around me, I exit to see rain lightly falling from the silver-lined clouds. It’s early still, and the sun hasn’t yet melted all of the ice on the windshield of my car. I hop in and turn the heat on, rubbing my hands together to get them warm. I turn the windshield wipers on, managing to scrape some of the fog and ice off.

I’ve already visited the lawyer’s office who handled everything. Who knew Saw had a lawyer? He told me the house was now mine, along with everything in it, so after some paper signing, I headed over to the diner. I sat there all morning, trying to get up the courage to go to the house, telling myself this is what I came here for, but it’s done little to help the anxiety in my chest.

Not only am I thinking about that, but Bryce is on my mind. I’m so conflicted when it comes to him. He told me he loves me. How can he love a person he doesn’t really know? And is this how he will act when I do something he doesn’t approve of? My head falls back on my headrest. “Ugh, I can’t deal with this right now.”

I put my car in gear and turn out of the small parking lot. Cars blow smoke from their exhaust pipes, and people dig snow from the sidewalks. I grew up north of Atlanta, and while we got a little snow in the city, it melted quickly, but here it’s still on the ground.

I head through the red lights and turn onto the long road that’ll lead me to my old home. It’s old and worn, and has seen a lot of sunshine and better days.

I pass the county line sign and turn. As I near the house, my hands start to shake and sweat slides down my back. I grip the wheel and let my foot off the gas.

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