Page 64 of Give Me Forever Love

I take a seat at the island.

Bryce looks at me, hurt clearly on his face because he hates fighting with his brother and I know Jace feels the same. “Apparently, I’m the worst brother in the world because I left him and moved to the city. I don’t know.” He exhales. “I told him I had to make something of myself, and you know Jace, he threw everything I’ve done wrong in my face.”

“Yeah, he’s good at pointing fingers,” I say, remembering how he called me out about Bryce and my relationship when I confronted him about Harlow.

Bryce glares at the floor, biting his inner cheek. “I know he’s seeing that woman, and it makes me madder than hell.”

“But what can we do about it?” I ask.

He shrugs, sipping his drink. “Not a damn thing.”

I look down at the brown liquid in my glass, swirling it a tad as my thoughts move from Jace and Harlow to mine and Claire’s argument about Bryce and the things he’s done.

His brother isn’t wrong, and neither is Claire. My guy got mixed up in some bad shit. I haven’t told Bryce about our conversation, and I don’t plan to. I don’t need him disliking my best friend. My family.

That will only cause problems. But I do need some reassurance when it comes to his relationship with Bones.

My eyes jump up to him. “Bryce, I don’t like the fact you’re tied up with Bones.”

He looks up at me. “Where did this come from?”

I avoid his gaze. “I don’t know. I was just thinking about it.”

He lets it slide, not pressuring me on why that’s on my mind. I’m grateful.

“I’m not,” he says. “I sold a club to the man. Our business is done.”

“Yeah, but do you think other people know your business is done?”

“I don’t know what other people you’re referring to.” I’m referring to Claire and other men who might be working with Bones. You get tied up with one of them and you get tied up with all… at least that’s what I’ve read and seen on TV. But what do I know? This is stupid. I shouldn’t have even said anything.

I look down at my glass again. “I don’t know either. I’m just saying, I hope we don’t have to see that man anymore. He scares me.”

“He got your man out of a prison sentence and he helped Claire.”

“Not because he’s a nice guy, Bryce. He wanted something in return.”

“I’m aware of that, but facts are facts.”

“Yes, they are. And the fact is, the man is a murderer. Just promise me you’ll stay away from him.”

“Don’t worry about it,” he says. “We’re done.”

“Promise me.”

“I promise, K. Let’s move on. Drink your drink so we can go buy a box of condoms.”

I laugh, but he doesn’t. “I hate those things. This is going to be hell.”

“Didn’t you use them before?” I ask, praying he did.

“Yeah, but never with you and I didn’t want to start.”

I down my drink as he does, too. “Don’t be a pouty baby.” I slide off the stool. “Go put a shirt on.”

“I don’t wanna wear a shirt.” He stomps his foot, childlike, causing me to laugh out loud. He winks at me and shakes his head at himself. “What are you doing to me?” he yells out through the apartment as he climbs the stairs.

Chapter Twenty-Three

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