Page 50 of Give Me Love

“What?” I ask, honestly interested in what he could be marveling at so intensely.

He shakes his head and my eyes go to his throat when he swallows then turns his face toward the falling sun.

“Nothing.”

My heart jumps from its diving board straight into a swarming flight of butterflies, because man, the way he was just looking at me. I’ve been on this earth for twenty-seven years and not once has anyone ever looked at me like that… not Mark… not another living soul.

It’s a damn shame really because we’re just friends. I don’t want anything more than that and he has made it clear that he doesn’t do girlfriends.

I furrow my brow as I look out at my crossed feet. There’s this lightness in my chest that I’ve never felt before, this feeling like feathers are floating inside, but there’s also an underlined heavy fear that has me breathing in to give it a release.

“Your ex-boyfriend was an idiot.”

I look over at him. “I fully agree.” Bryce’s eyes stay straight ahead when he says this. It’s as though he’s thinking out loud. I study the side of his handsome face. From the dip in his temple to the small dot of a birthmark on his lean neck. My fingers twitch on the soft blanket under us. I have to stop myself from reaching and running the pad of my index finger over the birthmark.

“But I’m glad,” he says, his Adam’s apple moving when he speaks, and my eyes jump to his.

“And why is that?” I question, my voice raspier than normal.

“Because now I get your time.” He looks back to me and that airy feeling spreads, leaving little room for anxiety. My mouth opens slightly, and I taste the evening air.

My time. He says it like it’s an important thing to have, and it makes me feel one thing I haven’t ever…wanted.

The wind blows harder now, causing a light rustling through the trees. It feathers over my heated skin, and chills chase one another up and down my arms. I look away from his face, trying to rein in all of these feelings. I see the colors in the sky have already changed from bright oranges to soft silver.

Summer heat lightning flashes in the distant clouds as I bite back emotions because his words break walls and he’ll never know how much he just changed me.

“Kathrine Harrison?” someone says. I turn my neck.

“Holy crap. Nash?” I lift myself up, catching his smile as he hugs me tightly. This guy was a lifesaver in my college algebra class, and we may have messed around some, but that was a different time and I was even more closed-off than I am now.

“What are the odds?” he says. My arms almost stick to him because of the humidity.

“Sorry.” I give an oops face.

He laughs. “Dude, it’s hot as fuck out here. We’re all sweating.” He looks down at Bryce, and I follow his gaze. Bryce’s face is emotionless.

“This is my f—”

“Bryce Grant,” he interrupts me and stands up. “And you are?”

Nash lifts a pierced brow at me. “Nash Cohen. Kat and I went to college together.” He holds his hand out for Bryce to shake.

Mr. Moody returns it, but he doesn’t seem enthused. Our little bubble was pin popped. The moment we just had evaporates like rain on a hot tin roof.

“What have you been up to?” Nash asks me.

“Just working at Mugs & Books. Karen is selling the place. Can you believe it?”

“Wow. I can’t,” he replies. I dart my eyes over to Bryce who stands with his hands in his pockets and his blue eyes bouncing between Nash and me. The wheels in his mind are turning. I can see it.

“What are you going to do?”

“Well, I’m trying to buy it.”

“You should. You always loved the place.”

“Yeah,” I agree.

---