Crazy Stupid Love (Crazy Love #1)(52)

“What about tomorrow?” I ask, not quite ready to let her go just yet.

“I have class until two and then I work the dinner shift.” She pulls back, hitting me with a mischievous look. “But we still have a couple more hours before I have to head back.” She raises her eyebrows suggestively.

“I like the way you think,” I growl, dropping my mouth to hers.

****

“What the f*ck dude? Why didn’t you tell me you f*cking slept with Kimber’s roommate?” I slide into a stool at the high top bar table where Paxton and Gavin are sitting having drinks.

“Well hello to you, too.” He takes a long drink of his draft beer. “Where the f*ck have you been?”

“I had to drive Kimber home. Now answer the f*cking question.”

“I don’t tell you every girl I sleep with.” He leans back, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

“Yes, you do actually.” I shake my head. “You make it a point to make sure everyone knows.”

“I do not.” He fakes innocence, looking to Paxton for backup.

“Don’t look at me.” Paxton holds his hands up on a laugh. “If things are still the way they were when I left two years ago, which I’d say they are, then I’m only going to hurt your case.”

“Whatever. Fuck you guys.” Gavin slams back the rest of his beer in one drink. “I need another beer.” He spins, storming off towards the bar.

“What’s got his panties in a twist?” Paxton laughs, leaning forward to rest his elbows on the table.

“That’s a very good question,” I observe.

“So Kimber huh?” Paxton pulls the conversation to me. “I gotta say, dude, I didn’t think you were capable of a relationship.”

“Neither did I. I mean, it’s still pretty new,” I admit. “But this girl, I don’t know, dude, she’s different.”

“I’m happy for you, man.” He clasps my shoulder. “Truly.”

“I appreciate that.” I try to fight the smile that creeps across my face.

“Man, you’ve got it bad.” He laughs, shaking his head at me.

“I do,” I finally answer, not realizing how good it would feel to finally admit it out loud.

“How’s everything else going? How’s your mom?”

“She’s good. I don’t really see her that often, for obvious reasons, but she seems to be doing pretty well.” I nod at Gavin when he reappears, sitting a glass of whiskey down in front of me.

“And Trey?” Paxton continues.

“Fucking dick hole,” Gavin interjects.

“Boy things really haven’t changed have they? I mean other than the fact that Deck has gone and got himself *-whipped.” He winks, clearly just joking. “The anniversary of the accident is coming up soon isn’t it?” The serious change of conversation causes my whole body to tense.

“Two weeks,” I confirm, raising the glass to my lips.

I take a deep inhale before pouring the liquid into my mouth, the burn an instant relief from the panic and dread that has slowly started to creep its way into my throat.

“I’ll have to stop out and visit the cemetery,” he continues. “I can’t believe it’s been eight years.” He shakes his head.

“It’s crazy right?” Gavin tacks on. “Where has the time gone?”

“No doubt. Feels like just yesterday when we would hide out in Deck’s basement and get stoned off our asses. Do you all remember how Trey used to always try to sneak down and bust us?” Paxton laughs.

“God even then he was a tool,” Gavin agrees. “But you gotta admit we had some good times.”

“That we did,” Paxton confirms.

The guys continue to reminisce, reliving all the bullshit we used to pull as teenagers, but my mind is too preoccupied with the thought of what happened after all those memories to really enjoy the moment.

Sure we had some f*cking killer times, but those vanished along with almost everything else in the matter of one night. One night changed my entire life and ended another’s. No matter how much time passes, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to move past it.

The accident has defined who I am since the moment it happened. I tried to piece myself back together afterward but nothing ever felt the same. So instead of healing, I perfected my exterior; learned how to fake it so that no one had to suffer along with me. I had already caused enough pain, who was I to ask for relief?

But now there’s Kimber; a bright light shining through my very dark tunnel. For the first time in eight years, I feel something beyond what I lost... I feel hope.





Chapter Twenty


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Kimber

I swear I feel like class was never going to end today. This is the first time in four days that my schedule is clear enough that I can make the trip up to Portland tonight, and to say I’m excited is quite an understatement. I’ve been a bundle of anxious energy all day.

“Kimber?” I freeze just feet from the front steps of my dorm building the moment the familiar voice washes over me.

Turning slightly, the instant Garrett’s face comes into view my stomach bottoms out.