Page 133 of Give Me Redemption

“You could just ignore her phone calls,” I suggest.

“Now how do you think that would go down? She’d be up here looking for you.”

I roll my eyes. “You’re right. They’ve been overprotective since the day Chloe was taken.”

He looks up at me. I don’t usually talk about Chloe freely like that. It’s this huge thing in my life that I keep to myself. The details of how life was growing up, the struggle I had with my parents.

“Who will be there?” she asks.

“Mandy’s parents. It’s just for one evening, Mom, and then I’ll be right back.”

She gives me a sideways glance. “What if you have to go to the bathroom? Will you ask them to go with you?”

“No, Mom. I’m plenty old enough to go by myself. That’s ridiculous.”

“It’s not ridiculous. Kids are getting snatched up every day, every minute. What would I do if something happened to you, too?”

“You can’t keep me in this house forever,” I say. “Just because it happened to her doesn’t mean it’s going to happen to me.”

“I can’t risk that chance. You’re not going.”

“Mom, seriously? It’s a festival.”

“You’re not going, and that’s final!” she says, throwing a pot into the sink before storming out of the kitchen.

That was the last time I asked to do anything. I was sixteen. Chloe had been gone for two years. It wasn’t easy growing up in that household. Dad kept to himself a lot, and Mom watched me like a hawk.

But talking about it freely with Davy just now… it felt good.

Maybe Monroe is right. Maybe I need to tell Davy what I’ve been going through. I don’t really talk to my parents about my private life. They worry too much. Well, Mom does, and Dad spends his time trying to get her to chill out.

“Davy, I lied.” He lifts a brow. “Everything isn’t fine.”

“What’s wrong?” He sits up.

I sigh, my heart this heavy muscle in my chest reminding me daily that Jace hasn’t chosen us and that he probably won’t.

My eyes look down at the wooden desk, papers scattered and a cup of coffee steaming.

“I’ve fallen in love, and it’s killing me.”

“What?” he asks, looking surprised. “You? Harlow Dalton has fallen in love? Who is this boy?”

I wince. “Jace Grant.”

His eyes grow wide as he exhales and leans back in his chair. He links his fingers across his belly and shakes his head. “Well, shit. Now it all makes sense.”

______________

I shut the door to my apartment and lean back against it as Slim runs in from the kitchen. He purrs around my leg and I reach down and scoop him up.

“Miss me?” I ask. “Or are you just hungry?” Knowing it’s the latter, I put him down and walk into the kitchen to fix his food. I told Davy everything, from the moment Jace and I spoke our first words to each other to our conversation a few days ago.

Davy wishes I would have told him sooner.

I’m not sure if that would have mattered. I was already in too deep by the time I knew I loved Jace.

My phone vibrates in my pocket and I slide it out, disappointed when it’s my mom.

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