Page 139 of Give Me Love

She looks at me like I’m silly. “Yes, girl. I know you aren’t blind. That boy is nuts over you.”

I give her a closed-lip smile as my eyes roam around the big ranch-style kitchen. Flowers are in vases, and an island so big sits in the middle it could hold ten people. An enormous window rests behind the farmhouse sink, and I can see fields and mountains for the best dish washing view.

“You know, he’s never brought anyone out here before. Hell, he’s never even spoke of a girlfriend to us.” She stands in front of her stove as she cracks some eggs into her big iron skillet. Letting them sit for a moment, she rucks her sleeves to her elbows and turns around. “So, tell me all about yourself. Where did you grow up? What’s your story?”

“Umm.”

“Stop interrogating her.” Bryce saves me as he walks in with Lee.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Emily says. “I’m just getting to know her.” She turns back to her cooking, grabbing her spatula.

Bryce looks at me. I smile so he doesn’t think I’m uncomfortable, but he knows. He takes a seat beside me, putting his arm around the back of my chair like he’s at complete ease. “K grew up a few miles from Atlanta. She’s got a degree in business and owns a coffee shop in Little Five Points.”

I don’t own the coffee shop, but I don’t correct him because he knows this. I guess he doesn’t want to have to explain anything to them about our situation.

“Well, that all sounds good,” Lee says, pouring himself a cup of coffee. “Want any?” he asks Bryce and me.

“Yes, please,” I reply.

“No thanks, Pops,” Bryce replies as he removes his arm and sits up.

Lee nods and grabs another cup from the rack. I mess with the string bracelets on my wrist and look over at Bryce when he squeezes my knee.

“I want to show you around after breakfast.”

“Okay,” I say with a smile. Lee hands me my cup. “Thank you.”

“There’s some cream in the fridge, Kathrine, and sugar right here,” Emily says, grabbing the sugar bowl and placing it in front of me. “Help yourself to whatever you need.”

“Thank you.” I stand and walk over to the fridge, happy to see the cream is flavored and not the boring stuff.

“Lee likes his coffee black, but I have to have a little taste in mine,” Emily says as I shut the door.

“Me, too,” I reply. “My friend, Claire, tried to kick the cream and sugar herself but failed.”

Lee chuckles. “It’s a required taste. My daddy drank it this way and his before him.”

“Yeah, Bryce drinks his that way, too,” I say as I fix my coffee just how I like it, giving him a sideways glance, causing him to smile. I love how he looks when I notice things about him, like he’s always surprised that I pay attention to things like that. He has no idea how much I pay attention.

Emily dumps the eggs onto a big platter. “It’s ready,” she says. “Bryce, go get your brother.”

“Where is he?” Bryce stands.

“Right here,” Jace says, walking into the vast kitchen. He’s got work boots on and faded jeans. His baseball hat is turned around backwards, and I see that he’s growing a beard, which makes his boyishness completely vanish.

“You better take those boots off in Emily’s kitchen,” Lee says to him.

Jace slips his shoes and socks off by the doorway so he’s barefoot. He walks to the sink and begins washing his hands as Bryce gives me a plate. Tension grows thick in the kitchen, and the once happy atmosphere is now awkward and uncomfortable.

“How’s Frisk doing with that horse?” Lee asks Jace as he scrubs his arms.

He nods. “Fine.” He takes the dishtowel Emily hands him.

“Just fine, huh?” Lee asks.

“That’s what I said,” Jace replies.

“Hey,” Bryce speaks up. “Don’t be a smartass.”

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