Page 95 of Give Me Redemption

It really does.

I’m scarred on the inside and outside. But the thing is, my scars have made me who I am.

They’re proof that I fought the battle, and although I’m damaged, I still won.

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Bryce leaves me and heads back to his apartment once Harrison is done with her date with Claire. I sit up on the roof, smoking a cigarette, looking out over the city when my phone vibrates. I lift up and slide it from my pocket.

My chest falls when I see who it’s from.

Hey.

That’s all it says.

Why should I respond to this? It’s been months, and I’ve heard nothing from her. She must have switched grocery stores, because I haven’t seen her there either. I’ve contemplated going to Hudson’s bar more than once but decided against it. That’s her turf, and I wasn’t going to chase after the woman. I left it on her when she got out of my truck that day.

I inhale a deep breath and twist my snapback around, taking another drag from my smoke.

I look back at my phone, my digits twitching, not knowing what to do.

I can’t go through that shit again. It was pure hell. I fell hard for the girl, and she crushed me. What if she does it again?

Yeah, fuck that. I put my phone back into my pocket and finish my smoke before tossing it. I head down and walk to the fridge to grab a beer when someone knocks on the door. I twist to look. No one ever comes here besides Harrison and Bryce.

I remove the cap from my beer and walk over to the door. I move the blind to the side, and holy shit.

She’s looking down the alleyway, and I quickly let the blinds fall back into place.

What the fuck?

How did she know I was here?

I hold on to the doorknob, contemplating on what to do. Why is she here?

Why is she doing this? I could ignore her, go back to the couch, and enjoy my beer.

But she’s here.

After all this time apart, she’s right on the other side of the door.

I can handle that. I can talk to her without this turning into anything.

I exhale and turn the knob, opening the door. Little did I realize what exactly I opened the door for.

Chapter Thirty-Nine

(Weeks later)

Jace

Wheat fields and springtime warmth. Butterflies and orange-red skies. We’re lying on a blanket, surrounded by nature and openness. My life has turned upside down, completely flipped. I watch Dalton as she talks about a funny story from her childhood. I’m hooked, fully captivated by her.

She’s sitting crossed-legged, toying with a piece of grass between her fingers. Her hair’s up, away from her neck, her freckles scattered specks of beauty across her soft skin.

My feelings for her have multiplied. The day she knocked on my door I was cautious, not having any idea why she was there. When I opened it, she gave me a small smile and I couldn’t remember why we weren’t talking.

“You busy?” she asks.

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