Page 82 of Give Me Forever Love

“He’s your brother. The only piece of your dad that you have, ya know? Cherish each other. Don’t fight. Life’s too short.”

“You’re my dad,” I correct him.

He freezes, and I see the emotion pass over his face. He removes his hand and rubs his beard. “Thank you.”

I narrow my eyes, because in all the years I’ve been around this man, I’ve never seen him this way.

“I should be thanking you. You saved me,” I say. “You saved us both.”

Without thought, he grabs me in a hug and holds tight, only for a brief moment, before he pats my back and lets go. I swallow and try not to fucking cry myself. Jesus, what’s up with the emotion that comes with weddings?

We both straighten our suit jackets, and Pops clears his throat as he pulls out a cigar. He offers me one, but I shake my head.

He lights his, filling the room with a smell that will always remind me of him. “Always pick her first,” he says. “Do that and you’ll be fine.”

I nod, and then I look to see Claire standing at the doorway. “Can I talk to you?”

“Yeah,” I say. “Why don’t you sit down?” I ask, pulling out a chair for her.

She takes it, holding her stomach, and I see Austin in the living room seated on the couch, with one eye on us and one on the TV.

Claire looks me over before she straightens her back. “You know how I feel about you,” she says.

“Let’s not pretend like we’re ever going to be best friends.”

“Christ, right to the point then,” I say, sliding a chair out and taking a seat myself.

“Yeah, Claire. I’m aware of how you feel about me, and even if K plays like she doesn’t, she does.”

“I don’t hate you, Bryce, and I’m grateful that you make my best friend happy.”

“But what?” I ask.

“But if you hurt her, or put her in harm’s way, I will make you regret it.”

I tap my knuckles against the table, curious. “And how will you do that?”

She leans into me. “I will convince her that you are the worst thing she’s ever chosen. I will make her see reason, and deep down, we both know she will pick me. I’ve been with her since she stepped off a Greyhound. You’re just a boy who owned a nightclub.”

I smirk. Damn, she’s something else.

I nod. “Okay, Claire. You have a deal.” I’m not going to get pissed off at her, or tell her what I really know, which is Kat would choose me. It’s my wedding day. She’s Kat’s best friend and I know she loves the girl, so despite how she’s making my blood boil, I’m going to choose not to entertain this little threat of hers.

She narrows her eyes at me, and I stand up from the table, adjusting my tie. I run my hand down the back of my hair. “Don’t worry about K, Claire. She’ll be just fine. You have my word.” I go to walk away. “I’m sure she needs you upstairs.”

“Hey,” Jace says when I walk out onto the porch. He’s sitting in a rocker, his tie crooked, and a smoke hanging from his fingers.

“Hey,” I reply, noticing the guests as they start to take their seats.

I reach into my pocket and then move my hand over to him. “It’s K’s ring,” I say. He nods and takes it from me, sliding it into the inside of his blazer’s pocket.

“Everything good in your world?” I ask.

He nods again, and that’s the end of that, because I really don’t care to get into, and he knows.

“It’s time,” the preacher says, stepping up onto the porch. It’s some guy Mary knows from the rehab she went to. He’s nice, and since neither Kat nor I attend church, he’s all we’ve got.

He’s gotten to know Mary pretty well, so that brings me some comfort. She seems to really care about him, and he her. He doesn’t seem to be one of those holy roller types, but more of a person you can have real talk with. After all, he’s seen the worst. He knows life isn’t some magical fairytale. He knows hard times find people, but it’s people who have to overcome the hard times, and everyone has their own way of doing that.

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