Crazy Stupid Love (Crazy Love #1)(26)
Even still, I can’t let it lie. I can’t just walk away without knowing if it was something I did. I have to see him. I won’t be able to think straight until I do. Maybe it’s the beer, or maybe I am just sick of sitting back and letting life pass me by. But right now there is only one place I want to be, and it’s not here.
Pushing out of my seat, I hear Travis say something as I turn, but I ignore him. I slide through the row of seats until I reach the edge where Harlee is sitting, squeezed between two frat guys, looking like she is on cloud nine.
“I’m gonna head out,” I yell over the roar of the crowd.
“What? Why?” She hits me with a confused expression.
“You stay,” I say when she attempts to stand. “I have a something I need to take care of. I’ll see you back at the dorm later.” I lean in and give her a brief hug and a reassuring smile before sliding past her into the aisle.
Taking the stairs two at a time, by the time I reach the floor level platform I am gasping for air. The drop in temperature over the course of the evening makes it difficult to get a good deep breath, the cold stinging my tired lungs.
Reaching the parking lot within a few minutes, the cab I called is already waiting for me by the time I reach the street. Sliding into the back seat, I ramble off my destination and settle in, knowing it’s going to be a long ride to Portland.
****
The cab finally slows to a stop outside of Deviants just after ten-thirty. It’s clear to see from the crowd of people standing outside smoking that the place is hopping though I would expect nothing less on a Saturday night.
Handing the driver some cash, I quickly exit the cab, forgetting completely about my attire until a drunken girl leaning against the building makes a comment under her breath loud enough that I can hear it. For a moment, I have the urge to turn around and punch her right in the face, but I shake the anger away, not really sure where it’s stemming from.
After showing my identification to the man at the door, I finally push my way inside, my ears immediately assaulted by the pounding noise of the live band playing on stage. I didn’t even know they had bands play here though I guess it shouldn’t come as a surprise.
Fighting my way through the thick crowd, I stop at the edge of the bar. I don’t recognize either of the bartenders working, and I can’t seem to locate Decklan anywhere. Momentarily turning my attention to the stage, I watch as the singer jumps around like a lunatic as he sings some rock/pop hit that I recognize but can’t pinpoint.
Turning my attention back to the crowd, I let out a relieved sigh when I spot Gavin lounging on a barstool smack dab in the center of a group of girls. Shaking my head, I quickly make my way towards him, having to literally push two girls out of my way in order to reach him.
His face tightens the moment he recognizes who I am but it’s brief and quickly replaced by a drunken smile.
“Kimber,” he hollers over the noise.
“Where is he?” I don’t waste my time with pleasantries.
“Who?” He plays stupid but gives me a knowing smile.
“You know who.” I don’t indulge his playfulness, the hour and a half car ride making me more than a little irritable and my nervousness over being here shutting out my ability to care if I seem rude.
“He’s in the gym.” His tone drops. “Backdoor, across the parking lot.” He gestures towards the back of the room.
Nodding, I immediately head in that direction, pushing my way outside and crossing the crowded parking lot before I even once even consider my actions. I’m too blinded by my determination to really see things clearly though I more than recognize how out of character this is for me.
Grabbing the handle I can only assume leads into the gym, I pull open the heavy steel door and step inside, immediately knocked back by the volume of the rock music pounding from a surround sound system. The hallway I am standing in seems to act as a tunnel, only magnifying the sound.
Taking a deep breath, I force my feet to move, my eyes scanning a large room the moment I enter it. This place reminds me of an old boxing gym from the Rocky movies, more of a warehouse than a stereotypical gym. Various equipment runs along the far right wall, a boxing ring directly in the center, with punching bags to my left.
My stomach twists when my eyes finally find him...
Decklan.
He’s in the far corner of the room laying waste to the punching bag in front of him. His back is turned towards me so he doesn’t see me as I take hesitant steps in his direction. I don’t stop until I am just a few feet from him. I’m far enough that he doesn’t sense my presence but close enough that I can see the tiny droplets of sweat that trickle down his bare back as he lands punch after punch to the bag in front of him.
I’m mesmerized by the way his back muscles flex and move with each jab he takes. It’s quite possibly the sexiest thing I have ever seen, and I have to force myself to hold my composure and not melt right here on the spot.
I watch him for several long moments, wondering what he’s thinking, wishing I could run my hand along the dampness of his back and feel the heat of his flesh beneath my palm. The thought leaves me biting down on my lower lip just to control the urge.
Gently clearing my throat, the moment the noise registers around him, he freezes, his hand still in the air mid-swing. Turning slightly, the moment his eyes catch mine my stomach bottoms out.