Page 77 of Give Me Love

I plug my phone up and throw off my T-shirt. Not knowing when he’ll be here, I hurry and get dressed.

Over thirty minutes later, I’m sitting out on the fire escape with a glass of wine looking at my freshly painted toes on the rail. I reach up and pick some polish off that got on my skin when my phone dings. I look at the screen and see he’s here. I stand and take a gulp of wine as I step through my window. I don’t know why I was even out there. It’s hot as hell.

“What’s going on?” Claire says from her sleeping spot. Her hair is all over her head as she rubs her eyes.

“I’m going out with Bryce for a while. Why don’t you go to bed?”

She moves her hair from her face. “Good idea. Be safe.” She stands and yawns, tossing the throw onto the back of the couch.

“I will.” I open the door and hide my grin behind my wine glass. Good God, this man. He wears a suit, with a tie that’s been pulled loose from his neck. His hands are in his pockets, and even though I can see a tiredness in his eyes, he looks as handsome as ever.

“Hey,” he says, his voice a rough whisper, like he hasn’t spoken all day.

“Hey,” I reply hesitantly because his mood is far from chipper.

“You ready?”

“Yeah. One second.” I take another sip of wine before I put the glass down on the counter and grab my purse. Shutting the door behind me, I follow in step with him as we walk to the elevator.

He’s quiet Bryce tonight.

“It’s late,” I say, looking over at his weary profile.

His brow lifts. “Yeah,” he agrees. He reaches out and presses the button. His hands go back into his slacks, and there’s a deep crease in his forehead as he looks down.

“Everything okay?” I cross my arms and study his closed-off demeanor.

He looks over at me, blue eyes locked tight, showing no emotion. “It’s been a rough day.”

“Yeah,” I agree soundlessly as the doors open and we step through. I know my day wasn’t the greatest, but I wonder why his was bad. “Wanna tell me about it?” I ask, looking up at him.

The elevator descends, and he watches the numbers above the doors. “Just let me sit on it for a little bit.”

“Okay,” I reply. He’s hurting, and I’d like to know why, but if I’ve learned anything from my own shit, it’s that sometimes you just don’t want to talk about it.

And that’s okay.

For now.

He opens the door for me when we reach his car, and I give him a glance. “Where are we going?” I ask, placing my hand on the frame.

He studies my face before he answers. “Just a place I used to go to think. Can I take you there?” he asks in a slow tone. Normally, he wouldn’t ask me, but bossy Bryce isn’t with us tonight. His face is pale, and his eyes are tired with a gloss and a red rim. Without thought, I reach and place my hand on his cheek.

He stiffens, but then his chest deflates. It’s as though he’s letting go of something he’s been holding on to for a very long time. He shuts his eyes for a moment before touching my hand and gripping it in his.

He moves it so it’s resting against his lips. My heart breaks for the pain that’s inside of him, and when he opens his eyes, I see it in raw form. I look between his eyes and feel my chest tighten as I reply softly, “Yeah. That’s all right.”

Traffic isn’t light, and I get surprised when Bryce turns into a parking garage. He drives us up, shifting gears and pressing the clutch until we’re on the highest deck, and then he parks the car before reaching in the back.

“Come on,” he says.

I narrow my eyes skeptically but open the door. He walks us toward an elevator with a blanket in his hand. We climb in, and he presses a button.

“What’s with the blanket?” I ask.

“You’ll see.” He looks ahead when the doors reopen. My eyes blink as I take in the city of Atlanta. The enormous Ferris wheel is at eye level now and buildings with fog at the top surround us. The city lights look blurred from thick low clouds passing in front of them, and somehow, I feel weightless. Like all the crap that’s been following me my whole life doesn’t matter up here. No one can see me, and no one can touch me. It’s liberating.

“How did you find out about this place?” I ask.

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