Crazy Stupid Love (Crazy Love #1)(39)

“I’ll get it.” I shake my head when another round of pounding sounds against the door.

Sliding on my jeans, I don’t bother locating my shirt as I cross the space of the room, ripping open the door just as Angel has her hand lifted to knock again.

“Well f*ck me.” She lets out a loud sigh, her eyes traveling down my bare torso. “Please tell me you have a brother.” She squeals when Harlee smacks the back of her arm.

“Trust me, he’s not anything like Decklan.” Kimber appears suddenly at my side, her comment catching me off guard for a brief moment until I remember the day I had lunch with Mom and Trey. I had completely forgotten she was even there.

Giving me the type of smile that makes my stomach twist slightly, she pushes up on her tiptoes to lay a brief kiss to my cheek. “I’ll call you later.” She winks, shoving Harlee and Angel away from the doorframe as she steps into the hall.

“Goodnight, Decklan,” Angel sings up the stairs just moments before I hear the noise of the bar filter through the open doorway.

Glancing at the clock, I see it’s just after midnight. Knowing we are going to have a hell of a lot to clean up, I decide to get dressed and head back down. If I’m lucky, the place won’t be too trashed.

“He’s alive.” Gavin smiles at me from his stool at the edge of the bar the moment I step through the door.

“What happened to keeping her friends busy?” I grunt, sliding down into the stool next to him before signaling to Val.

She nods, appearing in front of me within seconds with a rocks glass in one hand, a bottle of whiskey in the other. “Where have you been all night?” she asks before Gavin can respond, a teasing undertone apparent in her voice.

“Where do you think he was?” Gavin laughs beside me, draining his glass before taking the bottle from Val and refilling it, then depositing the half empty bottle onto the bar in front of us.

“He’s in love.” His voice goes up an octave as he sways next to me.

“I’m not in love,” I grunt, draining the contents of my glass in one drink.

“I don’t know, boss, even I have to admit I’ve never seen you act this way before,” Val agrees, taking the bottle from my hand after I refill the empty glass in front of me.

“It’s called mixing it up. You two should try it sometime.” I try to let their comments roll off my back, but even I can’t deny the shred of truth they may hold.

Is Kimber really changing me that much?

I know the answer to that question without giving it a second thought.

“Is that what people are calling it these days?” he smarts off.

“You really want to go there?” I throw him a warning glare.

“So defensive.” Gavin clicks his tongue off the roof of his mouth.

“And how about you?” I turn towards him. “Since when have you not been able to land a woman you’ve locked in on?” I give him a knowing smile. “Not going soft are we?”

“Fuck you, Deck. I’m not soft. I’m just sure as hell not going to throw myself at someone who wants to play hard to get, especially when I have so many others begging. That may be a fun game for you, but I don’t do games; I f*ck.” He shoots Val a vicious look when she lets out a loud snort.

“Sorry.” She laughs. “But you two kill me.” She turns, shaking her head as she walks away.

“What the f*ck?” Gavin growls, his eyes still fixed on Val as she leans across the counter to take a customer’s order.

“What?” I throw him a curious glance.

“Why’d she laugh like that?” He seems genuinely bothered by Val’s reaction.

“Probably because she knows you.” I grin, emptying the rest of my drink in one swig.

“What the f*ck’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing.” I shake my head, not feeling up to spending the next hour reassuring him that he’s not completely losing his touch.

Gavin has always had a way with women, and I’m sure it’s grating on him that Harlee hasn’t dropped to her knees and begged him to take her. I find the whole situation quite humorous really. It also gives me a welcome distraction from my own current situation.

It’s easier to focus on other people’s lives than to deal with the fact that mine looks completely foreign to me. For the longest time I have operated the exact same way, and to have someone show up and completely unhinge all of that is f*cking unsettling as hell.

I try to convince myself it’s nothing, that I will bore of Kimber eventually. But deep down I think I know that’s not true.

I think I know she means a hell of a lot more to me than I am willing to admit. Because admitting that gives up the control that I am so desperately clinging to. I can’t let myself go down this road. I can’t risk hurting her the way I eventually hurt everyone who gets too close to me.

I don’t think I could bear to have her look at me with the same disappointment I have seen so many times before. To see pain in her eyes and know I put it there. I think ultimately, that’s what scares me the most.





Chapter Fifteen


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Kimber

“Yes, I know it’s been a while.” I try my best to muffle my frustration about having the same conversation with my mom yet again.