Page 134 of Give Me Redemption

“Hello?” I answer.

“Harlow. How was your day?”

“Fine,” I reply, putting the food down for Slim. I remove my gun and badge, placing them on the counter as I kick my shoes off by the couch. “How was yours?”

“Oh, good. I went and bought some fresh flowers for the house today. Your dad took a nap on the couch, and I cleaned the kitchen cabinets.”

“Sounds great, Mom,” I say with as much enthusiasm as I can muster when a knock sounds on my door.

“You going out this weekend?” she asks.

“Don’t think so.”

“What about therapy? How’s that been going for you?”

I twist the knob on the door, not thinking about checking the peephole.

“Mom. I’ll call you later,” I say, dropping the phone from my ear.

In black jeans, light brown boots, and a black T-shirt, Jace looks like a dark angel. He has his hands in his pockets and a smoke behind his ear. My heart is in my throat, my palms sweaty against the doorknob. I bend my toes in the carpet as he looks at me.

“Can I come in?” he asks.

I move to the side and push the door shut after he steps in. Nerves float in my chest, swimming with doubt. I lean back against the door and cross my arms.

He turns around to look at me. Blue eyes narrowing slightly, his teeth working on his inner cheek.

We stand, neither of us saying anything for what seems like forever, and then he says, “I’ve decided.”

“And?” I ask, scared of his answer.

“I’ve tried to tell myself that we shouldn’t be together. You lied to me. You fucking tricked me and hurt me more than anyone ever has. I want to hate you.”

I hold my breath, telling my lungs that breathing might make things worse.

“The day I came to Hudson’s I thought I had it all figured out. I thought I could move past this, but I started thinking too much into it and I talked myself out of forgiving you.”

I swallow and let air in.

“And then you told me about your sister. You’re obsessed, you know that, right?”

My eyes drop down to his boots. I know this about myself. I don’t need a shrink, my family, Davy, or Jace telling me that.

“Yes,” I say, looking back up at him.

“You need to get help. You need to talk to someone about this shit. All those photos you have, and the fact you’ve based your whole life around this case. It’s not healthy.”

“What about the drugs, Jace? You going to stop doing those? You going to chill out on the partying?”

“Yes,” he says.

I feel the wrinkle of confusion form between my brow. “Why?” I ask.

“Because I’ll have you. I won’t need any of that.”

My mouth shuts, and I can’t help it when my vision blurs. I’ve cried more these past few months than I have my whole goddamn life.

“You see, I’ve tried to convince myself that we’re wrong together, but I’ve failed. I can’t shake you, Dalton, and I don’t want to.”

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