Page 35 of Give Me Redemption

“Good.” She adjusts her hat and looks at the TV. The Braves are winning and she seems interested.

“So, Michelle?” I ask her.

She turns to look at me. “Huh?”

“Your name. It’s Michelle.”

“Oh, yeah,” she says with an eye roll. “Sorry, I was focused on the game.”

I smile. “Jace,” I say.

She holds her hand out for me to shake. I do and she says, “We officially know each other now. I can stop calling you Grocery Store Boy.”

“Grocery Store Boy?”

“I had to call you something, and that was all I had.”

“So, you thought of me then?” I ask her with a smirk.

She gives me a smile as the bartender places our beers on the bar. “You want something to eat?”

She shrugs. “I could eat a burger.”

“Okay, two burgers, please.”

“Coming right up,” he replies. I know I have food in the fridge to cook, but it’ll hold off until tomorrow.

“How long have you been coming here?” I ask as her eyes go back to the TV.

“Years. It’s near my house. It’s just easy. I’m all about easy,” she says, looking over at me. She straightens her back.

“What’s your last name?” I ask her.

She blinks. “Why?”

“I’m an Army guy. We usually go by last names.”

“Oh, right. Um, can you call me Michelle, though? I’m not too fond of my last name.”

I lift a brow. “Yeah, sure.” Noting that she still never told me.

“Thanks.” She clears her throat. “So, what about you, Jace? What’s up with the Army?”

I grab my beer from the bar. “Nothing anymore. I served for eight years. Now I’m out.”

“So, you’re done?”

“Yeah.” I take a sip of my drink.

“What now then?” she asks.

“My Pops owns a horse ranch up north. I’ll probably work up there a bit until I figure it out.”

“A horse ranch?” she asks, surprised.

I nod.

“You ever rode a horse?” I ask her.

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