Page 40 of Give Me Forever Love

“Y’all go on now.” He dismisses us and we head back where we came from. Once outside, my lawyer turns to me and hands me an envelope. It’s thick and heavy.

“No paper trail this way,” he says. “Don’t open it here. Trust me when I say it’s all there.”

“Okay.”

“Bones says you’re welcome at Red anytime. He also says he hopes you’ll stay in touch.” He slides a card from his front pocket to hand to me.

I remember back on my conversation with Danny in that visiting room. I remember how I got to see the man behind the black and how in a different life we might have been friends.

“But if I were you, I’d toss that card and leave all of this behind. Move on,” he says. “The judge is right to warn you. Being connected with men like Bones…” He shakes his head. “It never ends up good. Take care, Bryce. If you ever need anything, you know where to find me.”

With that, he hurries off to his car, leaving me standing with an envelope full of cash and a card that comes with a warning.

_____________

Kathrine

The air feels different, the sun smiles bigger, the wind is cooler, and the pep in my step is surely noticed.

I’m happy.

Fucking ecstatic.

I’m driving through Atlanta traffic, and there’s roadwork so I get detoured. I get stopped at red lights, staring out my window at drainpipes filled with cigarette butts and swept-up leaves. I almost hit a person on his bike as he comes off the Atlanta BeltLine. My car is on empty, and I have to stop for gas just as the bottom falls out.

It’s lightning, and thunder rolls in the distance. The sun has disappeared, and I get soaked running into Mugs & Books because I didn’t look at the weather and left my umbrella at home.

But I’m not even mad, y’all.

I’m not even mad.

Life is beautiful in all its ugly. Time is precious in all its hurry. I’m in love in every way a person can be.

I swipe my hair from my face, rain dripping from my nose, down my band shirt, between my breasts. My Vans squeak when I walk, and Becca looks at me like I’ve grown two heads because I’m smiling.

“Are you okay, Kat?” she asks as she refills the sugar packets.

“Never better,” I reply. I look over at a few college kids on their Macs, sipping on coffee.

“Good morning,” I say, pulling my shirt away from my skin. One kid looks right at my breasts and I don’t even care.Look all you want, kid. That’s all you’ll be doing.

“Where’s my best girl?” I ask Becca.

“She’s in the kitchen.” She nods toward the back. I look over at the new books we got in this morning ready to be shelved. “I’ll get to those in a bit.”

She nods as she moves on to another table. “We’ve had an increase in thrillers lately. So, I ordered more.”

“Sounds good. Who doesn’t like a good thriller?” I smile as I head toward the kitchen, thinking I may be living a thriller with everything I’ve been through.

Pushing open the swinging doors, I turn and see Claire in the fridge. I realize we’ve hardly spoken since the raid at Red. I moved out, Bryce got arrested, and then I stopped living.

She shuts the door. “Agh!” she says, grabbing her chest and shutting her eyes. “Jesus Christ, Kat. You scared the hell out of me.”

I laugh. “Sorry. How could you not hear me? My shoes sound like bats in a cave, they’re so squeaky.”

She chuckles. “Why are you wet?” she asks, placing some ingredients down on the counter. Her hair is piled on top of her head, and she’s wearing big hoop earrings. Black pants and a hot pink double-breasted chef’s coat is her chosen outfit. She looks happy, content. My beautiful friend.

“I got caught in the rain.” Thunder booms and makes the dishes rattle.

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