Crazy Stupid Love (Crazy Love #1)(22)

It’s not lost on me that not only is she the first girl I have ever allowed to stay the night, but she’s also the only girl I have slept with more than once. Ever...

I don’t know why.

I don’t know what it is about her that makes me feel so different.

The thought plagues me over and over again as I watch her back rise and fall with each breath she takes. I count them; each inhale, each exhale, until they all f*cking blend together into nothingness.

****

I wake abruptly, my eyes shooting open as I take in the drab ceiling above me. No nightmares... I can’t remember the last time I slept through the night without having at least one.

Turning my face to the side, the sight of Kimber lying next to me is enough to send a galloping panic through my chest. I’ve never woken up next a woman before, and to say the experience is unsettling is a bit of an understatement.

Remembering that I abandoned Val and Gavin last night, I decide I should probably run downstairs and make sure the place is still in one piece. I know this is my excuse for escaping my current situation, and I’m okay with that. I just need a minute to sort through this.

Pushing back the covers, I roll out of bed, careful not to wake Kimber who is still in the same position on her stomach as she was when I finally dozed off last night.

She shifts when the bed creaks, rolling to her back but remains asleep. I can tell by how peaceful she looks: her expression soft, like an angel.

An angel who just crawled into bed with the f*cking devil.

Quietly crossing the room, I retrieve my pants and shirt from last night off of the floor, sliding them on before slipping on my shoes and heading out the door, downstairs to the bar.

Pushing my way inside, I jump slightly when I see a bright eyed Gavin sitting at the bar drinking a cup of coffee from the bakery across the street. I can tell where it’s from by the flowering f*cking design that swirls across the lavender to-go cup.

Looking around, I notice immediately that the bar has already been cleaned; the bar stools turned upside down on the tables to allow the freshly mopped floor to dry. Shay must have been in and out early this morning.

“Mornin.” Gavin offers me a knowing smile and nods.

“What the hell are you doing here this early?” I ask, crossing behind the bar to retrieve the cash from last night, something I do every morning.

“Well, it’s not really all that early.” He laughs, prompting me to glance at the clock to see that it’s already afternoon.

Holy shit.

I can’t remember the last time I slept this late. Sleep is usually not a friend of mine. Then again, that’s certainly not the only thing that is different this morning.

“And I’ve already dropped the deposit.” He adds when I open the cash register to find the money already gone.

“What the hell has gotten into you?” I turn curious eyes on him, knowing how out of character this type of behavior is for Gavin.

“Just felt like helping out a friend.” He takes a large drink of his coffee, avoiding my gaze.

“Fuck that. You forget I f*cking know you, dude. What the hell is up?” I pin curious eyes on him.

“Nothing.” He shakes his head. “I just wanted you to be able to take it easy this morning. You know, considering that you bounced out on me and Val two hours early, and you were still going at it well after the bar closed last night. You really should get a new place, or at least learn to keep your girls quiet.” He smiles mischievously and lifts the coffee cup back to his mouth.

“How was she?” He tacks on after taking a long drink.

“I’m not doing this with you.” I cross my arms in front of my chest and lean against the back counter behind the bar.

“Since when?” He seems a bit surprised. “We always share war stories. You can’t hold out on me now. Unless...” His smile spreads. “She’s still here isn’t she?”

“What if she is?” I try to keep my tone casual.

The last thing I want to do is have Gavin make this a big deal when it’s not.

“Shut the f*ck up.” He slaps the bar in surprise.

“Dude.” I point at the ceiling, gesturing to upstairs. “Can you keep it the f*ck down?”

“My bad.” He laughs. “So you’re really not gonna tell me anything?” He pushes again.

“Nope.” I shake my head slowly.

“That good huh?” His smile is so big at this point I swear his face is going to split apart.

“Better.” I drop my head back on a laugh when he jumps up from his stool.

“I knew it. I f*cking knew that hot little piece would be stellar in bed. Fuck. I should have made my move first.” His words cause anger to boil slightly in my chest.

I don’t know why. It’s not like we haven’t had similar conversations. But this is different. I don’t want anyone talking about Kimber like she’s just another piece of ass. Then again, do I really expect her to be anything but exactly that?

“Well too bad for you, you didn’t.” I shrug, trying to swallow down my statement as the reality of my situation starts to really take hold.

So what if I let her stay the night? I’ve been craving her for so long I needed a few times to really get her out of my system. That doesn’t mean anything. It doesn’t mean that I am somehow changed and that everything will be different.