Page 23 of Give Me Forever Love

Shitty.

I feel shitty about it, but I can’t think about anything but Bryce right now. If he doesn’t get to come home, then what the hell am I going to do?

I hear Claire in the back of my mind.“You’re going to put on your big girl panties and live your life.”

I roll my eyes. She’s right as always.

I run a brush though my hair before wrapping it up and pulling a few pieces out around my face. I change my T-shirt and jeans for a black blouse and a black pencil skirt. I swap out my Chucks for some strappy heels that don’t hurt my feet too bad. I have no desire to dress up, but I’m representing Bryce and I don’t want to embarrass him by looking homely. Obviously, my mood has changed from earlier.

Earlier I didn’t care what Bryce thought.

Now I can’t wait to see him, and I don’t want him looking at a pathetic version of me.

I run some mascara over my lashes and dab a little bronzer on. With a final once-over in the mirror, I look back at the girl staring at me.

We got this.

He’s coming home, and tonight we will breathe a little better.

With a nod, I flick the light off and exit the bathroom.

__________

The ride to the courthouse is quiet. Each of us is in our own heads wondering what’s going to happen. We’re told where to go, and once we walk through the double doors into the small courtroom, the smell of Murphy oil soap hits my senses as the all-wooden room shines.My heart perks up as we search for him, but disappointment sinks in when we don’t see him yet.

Lee notices. “He’ll be out in a minute,” he says.

I don’t respond and my eyes land on someone else.

My legs move on their own accord. My heart puffs out her chest, pushing blood through my veins. She runs shoulder first into my chest wall, trying to get us to go faster. I walk down the aisle Harlow is seated behind.

I stop in front of her, my blood pumping through my veins, showing through skin. “You bitch,” I say slowly.

She blanches. “Kat,” she says, her eyes looking around.

“How could you?” I grip onto the bench. “How fucking could you?”

She holds up her chin. “It’s my job.” On the outside this girl tries to prove that was the only option she had.

But I’m no fool.

She’s got a battle going on inside those green eyes. She’s not convinced what she did was the right thing.

I scoff. “Who are you trying to persuade? You or me?”

Her eyes jump up to mine.

Gotcha.

I smirk, leaning in. “You fucked up.”

She tilts her head. “Do I need to remind you that

I’m a cop and you’re causing a disturbance.”

I look at her with disgust. How did I not see this?

At the pool when she asked me all of

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