Page 62 of Give Me Perfect Love

ChapterEighteen

Bryce

Cold wind sweeps across the pasture, lifting snow and the horses’ manes. I stand at the fence with a warm cup of coffee and two weeks’ worth of stubble. Kat wanted a break, and I figured the best way to give that to her was come out here. I’ve been working my ass off to keep my mind off her, and it’s been working like water in a gas tank.

I roll my neck and slip a hand into the pocket of my Carhart. Warm black coffee coats my throat after I take a sip, and I look down at the hand holding my cup as I rest it on the fence. My knuckles are well busted and bruised, but my face is finally healing.

The scars from my past are still visible, though. Inside and out. The car wreck still replays in my mind, and the cuts from broken glass still mark my skin.

I’ve been thinking about my parents a good bit this past week. I’m afraid I’m just like him, and when I look in the mirror, I want to punch the reflection staring back at me because I’m fucking up the best thing that’s ever happened to me and I’m not sure how to fix it.

“We got a good snow last night.” I turn to hear Pop’s rough voice behind me. He walks in old worn boots and faded jeans, a darker shaded Carhart coat, and an even thicker beard.

I sniff and shake off the cold as I look back at the field of grazing horses. Cold breath blows from their snouts, and snow is sprinkled in their manes.

The sky is azure blue, and the sun is just starting to peek over the horizon, gifting us some warmth and natural beauty.

“Yeah,” I agree as I take another sip from my cup.

“You find what you’re looking for?” he asks me a moment after he rests his arms on the fence.

I look over at the man who raised me. “Ah, I’m not looking for anything.”

“Bullshit,” he says. “My city boy son doesn’t come out here too often as it is, and you’ve been here for a week now.”

I lift a brow. “Nothing gets by you, does it?”

He shakes his head. “I try not to let it when it comes to you two.” He rubs a hand over his beard, his soft blue eyes narrowing. “This about the girl?”

I nod and squint my eyes toward the sky. “I’m afraid I’ve run her off.”

He chuckles. “We men are good at that.”

I look over at him. “Can’t imagine you running anyone off.”

“Aw hell, boy. I was just like you once.”

“Just like me?” I ask, surprised.

He nods. “Yeah. Hell-bent on messing things up for myself. God bless that woman in there.” He nods back toward the house. “She was strong enough to handle me at my worst and I have a feeling your Kathrine is, too.”

I look down, soaking up the words he’s saying.

Just like me.

“Give her a little time, Bryson. She’ll come around.”

I shake my head. “You’d think I was a teenage boy and not a man in his thirties with how clueless I am to what women want.”

He laughs. “Shit, son, you’ll never know that. You’ve just got to bend when they say bend and ask how high when they say jump.”

I smirk, but exhale as I think about my relationship with Kat. It’s intense and full of fucking passion, but the arguing. The jealousy. I don’t know.

“We’ve been fighting a lot lately.”

“All couples argue, Bryson. Listen to me.” He turns his body toward me. “Relationships are hard. They ain’t always passionate lovemaking every night, cuddles on the sofa, and I love yous. They’re fighting about the bills and trying to figure out a way to live with each other’s shit.

“Sometimes there are bad words said that you can’t get back and things you do that you think will end you. But strong couples go through all of that and come out better in the end.” He pulls a cigar out of his front pocket and I watch him light it.

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