Page 43 of Give Me Redemption

“What are you smiling about?” Bryce asks from beside me.

I put my phone down. “Nothing,” I respond. My brother doesn’t know it, but he isn’t the only one who’s catching feelings.

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I’m due at Michelle’s in a little while to cook, but I wanted to stop by Bryce’s and talk to him for a minute. He didn’t answer his phone, so I’m hoping he’s here and alone. I know he’s not the best person to give me advice on relationships, but I want someone’s input on this. I really like this chick, and I don’t want to fuck it up. Besides, he’s my brother. Our relationship hasn’t always been the best, but we’ve been getting along well lately. I value his opinion, and he’s obviously doing something right. Harrison is sticking around.

I exit my truck, walk inside, and head up to the top floor. Yeah, my brother has the penthouse. A whole floor just for him.

It’s over-the-top, if you ask me, but whatever. I step off the elevator and use my key to walk into the apartment.

“Harrison,” I say when my eyes land on her standing in the kitchen, and then I look to my right.

What?I feel my face pale.

“Mom?” I can’t believe what I’m seeing. This isn’t right. Why is Mary here? What the hell is Mary doing here? What the fuck is going on?

I slightly shake my head and run a hand over it as I narrow my eyes in utter confusion.

“Jace, my boy,” she says and runs over to me with a hand over her mouth. She knocks me stupid when she throws her arms around me, and I look to Harrison before looking down at the floor. Has she ever hugged me? Like, really hugged me.

I don’t dare touch her. My arms splay out, like Jesus on the cross.

This is too much. This is insane. I haven’t seen this woman in over twenty years. A bomb filled with pain bursts inside my chest, sending tiny sharp fragments throughout my bloodstream, slicing tissue and making me bleed, but then something else happens.

I remember.

I remember it all.

Anger. Pure, utter anger seeps from my pores.

I step back from her. “What are you doing here?”

Her arms come to her sides with her elbows bending. “Your brother invited me here.”

I laugh, because that’s ridiculous. “He invited you here?” I ask unbelievingly.

“Yes,” she says lowly. She looks down, and is that guilt I see?

I shake my head again and look at the hardwood, rubbing my face. “Where’s Bryce?” I ask, looking over at Harrison.

“I haven’t seen him all day. He won’t answer his phone.”

I nod. He didn’t answer for me either. Fucking hell. I came over here to talk about Michelle. To open up to my brother, and he’s been what? Hiding our mom? Lying to me?

“Harrison, this isn’t going to be pretty. I think you should go.”

She blushes, looking like I hurt her feelings. I don’t want to be rude to her, but this is a private matter, and I don’t really want her to see me this way.

“Okay,” she says, sliding off the stool. She walks toward the door.

“Where are you going?” Bryce asks her as he walks in.

“Well, it seems like you’re having a little family thing here, and I’m not sure I need to…”

“Stay,” he says, shutting the door behind him.

“Bryce, I’m—” Kat says.

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