Page 5 of Give Me Forever Love

Motherfucker.

I can’t wait to walk out of here.

She sighs.

“Smile. This will all be over soon.”

“Times up, Bryce,” the guard barks.

I turn around. “Look, I’ve gotta go.” I clear my throat, hating that this is getting to her so bad. I’m mad at myself for getting caught. I’m mad at my brother for letting that girl into our lives. He should have been more careful.

“Hey, K,” I say into the phone, wishing I was with her. Wishing this was all just a nightmare.

“Yeah?” she says.

“Think about me when you get that bath, yeah?”

I know she’s blushing without even seeing her and I hear it in her laugh.

Her laugh.

It could change the way people see things. Give you hope for a better day. She’s proof that the sun will rise again even when darkness seems endless.

“I love you,” she says.

“Love you, too.” The phone goes dead and I hang it up, staring at it. I hang my head, looking down at the grime stuck between the tiles below my feet.

This all had to end eventually, didn’t it?

How long could I have really kept this up without anyone noticing?

I had some good years on top, but now that’s over.

I exhale.

It’s over.

My arm is shoved, tripping me out of my thoughts.

“Let’s go,” the guard says. I grit my teeth but turn and walk ahead.

I’m taken back to my holding cell and the door is locked behind me. I sit on the metal bed and clasp my hands between my spread knees.

I’ve been in here before, but it’s been for dumb teenage shit that Pops got me out of. I have no record. To these fuckers I’ll be a first-time offender. I just hope these lawyers I hired know the judge and can get me out of this shithole until my hearing. I sigh and rest back, staring up at the light until it blinks off.

Fuck, I miss my girl.

Chapter Three

Bryce

Fireworks burn in the night sky, making it sound like a war zone outside of these hard walls and I wonder what K is doing. Is she with my family watching the show Pops usually puts on out at Grant Ranch, or is she at the apartment on the balcony looking up at the sky as the city celebrates Independence Day in Centennial Olympic Park?

I hate that I’m stuck in here and I’m not able to watch her face light up as the sky does. I’ve been staring at the same brick wall since Friday and it’s driving me insane. I spoke to my lawyer yesterday. He said he’s pretty sure he can get me out of here Tuesday. I told him he better be more than pretty sure as much as I’m fucking paying him.

A loud buzz sounds and the door slides open. I sit up from the mat and run a hand over my face.

“You’ve got a visitor,” the guard says. I tilt my head in curiosity. Who the hell is visiting me at night? Is that even allowed?

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