Page 115 of Give Me Redemption

She exhales. “Well, I better get going.” She stands up and I do, too. She walks to the door and opens it before turning back to me. “It was really good to meet you.”

“You too.”

She smiles. “Take care.”

I nod and she walks on through. I shut the door behind her, looking down at the dog tags in my hand. I put them around my neck and look over my place. My phone burns a hole in my pocket because I want to callher. I’d also like to talk to my brother, but I’m sure he’s infuriated with me.

I slide my phone out and look at the screen.

I can’t talk to her. I can’t be with her after what she did to my brother.What she did to me.

I have to focus on the pain that she caused so I can remember why I have to stay away from her. I lean my head back on the door, hitting it against the wood and shutting my eyes.

I think back on all the papers that flew out of her table. Her sister Chloe who she never mentioned before.

Maybe she’s more fucked-up than I am.

Maybe it’s a good thing we’re not together.

Maybe I need to get the hell out of here and get my mind off of all this shit.

I push off the door and grab my keys.

Chapter Forty-Eight

Jace

Loud music drowns out my thoughts. This is the worst dive bar in town, but I needed somewhere that didn’t remind me of the shit storm I caused. I’m drunk, dancing with some chick I met at the bar earlier. It’s a nice distraction. It’s whatever.

“Gotta pee,” she says. I nod and stumble back to the bar. I lift my finger for another drink. The bartender narrows his eyes at me.

“You think you need another?” he asks.

“I think you need to mind your fucking business.”

He shakes his head at me before sliding a filled shot glass across the bar.

“’Preciate it,” I say before tossing it back.

The music grows louder, and my vision blurs. I stumble to the bathroom, pushing open the door and kicking it shut behind me. I grip onto the sink and reach down into my pocket to pull out the cocaine I bought earlier.

The rush hits me like a ton of bricks and I breathe in, looking up as I shut my eyes.

Her face is the first thing that flashes there, and I fucking hate it.

I look down at my phone, not realizing I’d pulled it out. The urge to talk to her is killing me.

God, I hate this. I throw my phone against the sink, smashing it to pieces.

I open the door and walk out with a new purpose in my step. I see the girl I was dancing with, and I walk up to her and grab her hand. “Come on.”

____________

The sound of knocking wakes me from my coma-like sleep.

I blink my eyes open, wishing I didn’t.

Jesus Christ, I feel like shit.

---