Page 71 of Give Me Love

Bryce

We stand, not saying a word after he leaves. I wonder who he was, but from the looks of it, I’d say her ex. Thick tension fills every space in this room, and her guard shows just as clear as the blankness on her pretty face.

You’re just like me,my heart speaks.

I run a hand over my chest, trying to rub away this odd feeling.

“You all right?” I ask, my voice sounding like sandpaper and sleep. I clear my throat and slide my hands into my pockets.

“Yeah,” she says softly, like she just didn’t go through something. She gives me a closed-lip smile, but I’m no fool.

Come here, girl. Let me hold you.

She slightly shakes her head as if ridding herself of any thoughts that matter and reaches around her waist to adjust her apron strings.

An all too familiar feeling of anger starts to fester in my chest, replacing the warm one I had only moments ago. I want to run after that fucker and rip his tongue out so he can’t speak anymore. My neck twitches, and my hands ache to hit something. Her eyes narrow, and my switch goes off. I spin and head toward the door.

“Bryce!” she calls after me, but I’m already shoving the door open and looking for him. I search both ways and see no sign…until I do. He’s down the road getting into his car.

“Hey!” I yell over to him. He looks back as I walk toward, and then he quickly jumps into his car. I start to jog as he cranks it.

His car approaches, and I run out in the road. He slows, giving me a slight smirk.

I yank on the door handle. “Get out, motherfucker.”

He flicks me off and pushes on the gas, and I slam my hand onto his back window before he gets out of my reach. Rage boils over, and I angrily scrub my hands over my head, causing my hat to fall. I link my fingers together, resting them on top as I watch his car disappear down the road. I inhale through my nose, breathing rapidly.

“Bryce?”

I shut my eyes and try to rein it in before turning around. Kat stands with wide eyes and her hand over her mouth.

Shit.

I drop my hands to my sides.

“I’m sorry, Kat.” My anger fades at the sight of tears in her eyes.

I take a step, and she shakes her head and steps back. I flinch.

“You don’t have to be scared of me,” I say, hurt that she would be. A tear slides down her cheek, and my fucking heart cracks.

What is this?

She wipes it away, hugging herself as she looks down the road to where he disappeared. Cars pass by, and short-tempered horns sound in the distance, reminding me that we’re in the busy city. I wish we were at the ranch. Alone.

“I’m not scared of you,” she says quietly.

“Then why step away from me?”

Her eyes look to me, and I see pain. Years of it.

“Because look what I do. I’m messed up, Bryce.”

So am I.

“You didn’t do that,” I say, stepping close again and this time she doesn’t move. “That guy didn’t deserve you. He’s a punk.”

She shakes her head. “I hurt him. We were together for two years, and I couldn’t even tell him I loved him.”

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