Page 37 of Give Me Love

I shake my head and inhale as I hold the back of my neck. “This is insane,” I say, looking to the floor.

“I wouldn’t say that,” he replies.

My eyes dart back up to his. “And what would you say?”

“Interesting. Entertaining maybe, and definitely not boring.”

I laugh. “No, if we’ve been anything, boring is not it.”

“Was your ex boring?” he asks.

I chuckle. “Was he boring?”

He nods.

I think back on our relationship and tilt my head. “Yeah. I’d say so.”

He smiles. I’m not sure why this makes him happy, but whatever. “Look, Bryce. I’m gonna be honest with you here. The breakup made me look at things differently.”

Bryce looks amused. “What things exactly?” he asks.

“Well, myself for one.”

“That’s funny. I think you’re perfect.”

I feel my chest turn ruby. “Flattery isn’t gonna get you anywhere.”

“I’m not flattering you,” he says, straight-faced.

I sigh and try to get ahold of myself here. He’s nerve-wracking, and when he compliments me, it only makes me more nervous. “Okay… well, anyway… I’m not looking for a boyfriend.”

He smirks. “That’s good, because I don’t have girlfriends.”

“What does that even mean?” I ask, shaking my head. “You are the strangest person.”

“You think I’m strange?” He almost looks offended, but I doubt he is.

“Just a little,” I say, pinching air.

His eyebrows curve, but there’s a sparkle in his eyes. “Why?”

I hold nothing back. “First off, your emotions are all over the place. I can’t keep up. One minute you’re nice, the next you’re a stone castle wall, and as quick as I process all of that, you’re an asshole.

“Take last night for instance,” I say. “You turned all sweet Bryce when you wanted to take me to eat, and then you snapped at me about a seat belt.”

He runs a hand up his face, causing his hat to lift up. And those wrinkles appear on his forehead, and I see it as his mind trails off.What is he thinking about?

“Bryce?”

He looks at me with a pained expression, and my heart sinks. I see the boy in him, and I wonder what happened.

Bryce isn’t this way by accident.

No.

Past circumstances are the cause. I know because I used to be this way myself. Who am I kidding? I still am.

“You don’t have to talk about it with me, but you do need to talk to someone. Whatever is inside of you needs to come out.”

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