Crazy Stupid Love (Crazy Love #1)(44)

“You could always stay with me for a couple of days.” He raises his eyebrows suggestively.

“Yeah, because I’m sure I would get tons of sleep that way.” I laugh, shaking my head.

“What are you saying?” He fakes offense, his laughter abruptly cutting off as he stills beside me, his grip on my hand tightening.

“What...” My words fall off before I have a chance to finish, my eyes following Decklan’s gaze to the man and woman exiting the restaurant just up ahead to our right.

I recognize him the moment his face comes into view. Trey.

It’s clear to see he’s spotted Decklan as well, veering in our direction almost instantly.

“Well, well, if it isn’t my little brother.” Trey steps directly in front of Decklan on the sidewalk, a lengthy brunette attached to his arm, the pair all but blocking our path. “Had I known you were in town I would have invited you to join us.”

“Somehow I doubt that.” Decklan’s voice is tight, his gaze narrowed.

“You’re probably right,” he sneers. “You’d likely drink the bar dry and then take home a waitress or two. Oh, wait.” His gaze turns to me, and I spot the recognition that crosses his features almost instantly. “You already found your waitress for the night it would seem.” His eyes dart between the two of us.

“Trey Taylor.” He extends his hand to me. “I believe we met a few weeks ago.”

“Kimber.” I force my voice even.

Taking his hand, I shake it lightly before pulling away. For whatever reason Decklan is not a fan of his brother, which means neither am I. I don’t even have to question it. I don’t know what the deal is with these two but regardless my loyalty stands firmly on this side.

“Kimber,” he repeats back. “This is Anita, my fiancée.” He introduces the brunette on his arm.

“Fiancée?” Decklan doesn’t try to hide the surprise in his voice.

“Yes, well perhaps this wouldn’t come as a shock to you if you actually called your family once in a while. How long has it been since you’ve spoken to Mom?” I can feel the judgment bleeding from every word he speaks.

“That’s not any of your f*cking business.” Decklan seethes, clearly trying to contain the anger I can see starting to boil slowly below the surface.

“Actually, it is my business,” Trey protests. “She’s my mother too, and if you think I’m going to just stand by and not say a word while you break her heart all over again, you’re dead wrong.”

“No one is breaking her heart.” Decklan tries to act unaffected by his brother’s comment but I can see it carries more weight than he’d likely admit.

“Is it not enough that she lost Conner?” Trey spits.

My mind immediately tries to piece together what they’re talking about, but I can’t ever remember him mentioning anyone by that name.

“Don’t you f*cking dare,” Decklan threatens, his grip on my hand falling away.

“Don’t I dare what, speak the truth? Just because you don’t want to admit it to yourself, doesn’t make it any less true. I tried to tell Mom to let you go, that she was better off without you, but do you think she listens to me? All she wants is for you to be in her life, and you can’t even give her that. Not even after you...”

“Don’t say it. Don’t you even f*cking think about it.” Decklan’s voice cuts through the air like ice, his tone causing a chill to run down my spine as I watch him stare daggers at his brother.

“Why not?” Trey throws his hands up, despite his fiancée’s attempt to get him to walk away. “You ruin everything. You always have. But f*ck if anyone says anything to Decklan. Fuck you. I won’t walk on eggshells because it hurts you to admit what you did to Conner, what you did to all of us.”

I can’t even process the statement before I see Decklan swing, his fist connecting with Trey’s jaw on a splintering crack. Trey stumbles backward, Anita immediately going to his aid. It takes him a few seconds to recover but when he finally straightens his posture and wipes the blood from his mouth, his focus goes to me not Decklan.

“I don’t know what he’s told you or who you think he is but if you want my advice, get out now. You have no idea what this * is capable of. I promise you, it won’t end well for you.” His words send my frantic heart pounding violently beneath my ribs.

A part of me wants to defend Decklan, to tell Trey he doesn’t know what he’s talking about, but I think deep down a part of me believes his statement. A part of me believes that this will end and when it does, I’ll be the only casualty.

“Come on.” Trey drops his arm around Anita, throwing one more vicious look towards Decklan before spinning around and walking away.

It takes me a few seconds to shake off the shock of what just happened before I finally turn my attention to Decklan. His eyes are fixed on Trey who is now several yards ahead, the look on his face enough to scare even me a little.

“Decklan,” I say softly, gently resting my hand on his forearm.

He jerks away the moment the contact is made, spinning around to pin his wild eyes on me.

“Didn’t you hear him?” he spits, stepping backward. “You need to stay away from me, Kimber.”