Page 23 of Give Me Love

“Party’s over, girls,” I yell over the music, looking for his phone that’s causing it all.

They pout. “Aw, Bryce, come play with us.”

“Out,” I repeat, tired from the day. I toss their clothes to them before walking to my dresser and grabbing a pair of sweats for Jace. The music changes to “Habits” by Fort Francis.

“Put these on, brother.”

He laughs, still dancing, drunk, high…hiding something behind all of it.

He falls, trying to put his leg through. Another laugh stumbles from his chest before he finally gets the sweatpants up. I stare down at him, wondering if either one of us will be okay.

Lyrics spill about some things are worth getting used to and caving in walls.

I bend down and grab his arm. “Come on.”

He stands on shaky legs and we walk toward the bed. He falls on his back, looking toward me. “You’re the only thing I’ve got,” he says.

I swallow, and my heart trips as his blue eyes shut.

My father’s words to my mother so many years ago.

Stepping back, I slide down the wall to the floor, looking up at a boy who might be just as lost as I’ve always been.

ChapterFive

Kathrine

A long stream of blue light slices across my bedroom floor. Memories of my childhood pass through as I think about how the stars were so vivid and the moon hung so high when I’d lay under them on nights I couldn’t stand being in the house any longer. I slept out in the open with only the comforting blanket of nature’s glitter over me. I’d wake up itchy from the tall grass, but completely rested because there were no loud voices keeping me awake.

Claire comes in from the hallway, suspending my thoughts of long ago. “You ready?”

“Yeah.” I clear my throat and move from the window.

“You look amazing,” she says, taking in my black shorts and white blouse with a deep open V in the front.

I give a closed-lip smile. “Thank you. You do, too.” I sit on the bed to put my laced block heels on. These are much smaller than the ones I apparently tossed into the trash last weekend.

She smooths out her skintight dress and sits down with me. “I’ve got an interview at that new restaurant I told you about.”

“You do?” I ask excitedly, my mood lifting at my friend’s good news.

“Yeah.”

I look over at her, noticing the worry in her voice and the tightness around her eyes.

“So, why aren’t you happy?”

“Well, it’s kinda odd.” She tilts her head, playing with a loose string from my comforter. “I mean, I don’t have any experience, and it’s a small place, yet I’m not meeting with the owner.”

I shrug. “You’ve got the degree, Claire, and maybe this was bought by someone who just wanted to invest. Not be a part of it, ya know?”

“True,” she says, biting the inside of her cheek.

I pat her leg. “Dude. This is good. Be happy. I hope you get it.” Standing, I walk over to my nightstand. I open my lip balm and slide it across my lips as I look back at her.

She exhales. “What if it’s him?”

I tilt my head in confusion, but from the look on her face, I know who she’s referring to. “There’s no way.”

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