Page 101 of Give Me Forever Love

Our relationship hasn’t changed because of that. In fact, it’s stronger. Sometimes, when you spill your truth to people, it connects you on a deeper level. Claire’s my family and family will always press your buttons, but that doesn’t mean you have to let them run over you. If you can’t be real with them, then what’s the use in having them in your life to begin with?

Bryce spends most of his days working with the ranch hands and talking about the next horse race with Lee. Jace has come out and visited, and the boys take off on their dirt bikes, trailing through the woods up the mountainside.

I push off on the bench swing and curl my legs up when the door opens.

“Always up here,” Bryce says, walking out onto the porch.

“It’s our favorite spot,” I say, looking down at Rylee in her bassinet. I put the book down I’m reading as he shuts the door.

He looks from her to me, biting his bottom lip and looking drop-dead gorgeous as always. Bryce has grown leaner since we’ve been here. He lost weight while at the hospital, and he started manual labor as soon as his shoulder allowed him to. He might be a city boy on the outside, but deep in his bones hides a country boy not afraid to get his hands dirty.

I love both sides of him.

“Go somewhere with me,” he says.

I smile. “Anywhere. Where you go, I go.”

He grins. “Come on then. Lou’s here and wants to spend time with Rylee.”

I nod and stand up.

After we get Rylee settled with Lou, Bryce takes my hand and leads me to the shop.

“Grab you a helmet,” he says, sliding his riding gear up over his clothes. I’m in jeans, Vans, and a T-shirt. He tosses me a pair of riding gear, too. “This was Jace’s when he was a teenager. It should fit you.”

I look at him skeptically. “I didn’t have to wear this last time we went riding.”

“That’s because I took you through a field. This is different.”

“Different how?” I ask, growing a little nervous.

He grins. “You’ll see.”

I exhale and put the thing on. Bryce grabs the bike and slides his helmet over his head before kick-starting the bike. It roars to life, filling the shop with fumes. I get a bubbly feeling in my chest, because I love this side of Bryce, too.

The boy.

I picture him as a teenager, so young and carefree. Part of me wishes I would have known him then. I feel like I missed out. He pats the seat and I walk over, holding on to his shoulders as he steadies the bike.

“Ready?” he asks as I hold on to his waist.

“Ready,” I call back.

He nods and puts the bike in gear, and we take off.

We fly through the fields just like before, but then we hit the tree line and I prepare for the scariest ride ever.

We climb over branches and maneuver in and out of tree lines. I hold on for dear life, and I even have to get off when we get to the steepest part of the mountain. I’m in awe of Bryce as he easily operates the bike. I have to hold on to small trees to get myself up the mountain, and by the time we reach the top, I feel like I’ve worked out.

But then, my eyes feast on the view before me and it takes my breath. The mountain breeze slides its fingers through my hair, and I unzip the suit so it’ll cool the rest of my body.

Bryce shuts the bike off as we both remove our helmets. There’s a bench and nothing but valleys and mountains before us. No wonder the boys come up here every time they can.

This is heavenly.

Bryce has his hands on his hips when I look over at him and he’s smiling.

“Worth it, right?” he says to me.

---