Crazy Stupid Love (Crazy Love #1)(59)

“Leave it alone, Gavin.” I try to keep my voice controlled.

“No. Look at you. You’re f*cking miserable. You love that girl and instead of being with her, you’re sitting here drowning yourself in the bottom of a bottle. How does that make any sense?”

“Don’t f*cking pretend like you have any room to talk.” I glare back at him.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” He hits me with a confused expression.

“Don’t you think I know why you never told me about Harlee?” I question. “You didn’t want me to know because deep down you have feelings for her. But instead of doing something about it, you ran.”

“Feelings for her? I don’t even f*cking know her,” he spits.

“What a cop out.” I shake my head. “At least I have the f*cking balls to own my shit. You’re just a f*cking coward.”

“And what do you call this, Deck?” He gestures towards me. “Bravery?” His words drip with sarcasm. “Numbing yourself with whiskey while you push away the only girl who you’ve ever really cared for? I think you’re the f*cking coward.”

“Fuck you, Gavin.”

“Fuck you.” He spits back at me. “This shit has gone far enough.”

“What the f*ck are you talking about?” My voice echoes around us.

“You. This incessant need you have to punish yourself. You can’t keep blaming yourself for Conner. You can’t keep pushing away everyone who cares about you. It’s f*cking selfish.”

“I can do whatever the f*ck I want.” His comment has my anger hanging on by a mere thread.

“You know what, you’re right. But where the f*ck are you going to be in five years, hell in ten years for that matter? I’m all about drinking and having a good time, but this isn’t what that is, Deck.”

“This is my life and it’s none of your f*cking business, Gavin. Leave it alone,” I growl, snagging the bottle in front of me before tilting it over, watching the golden contents splash into my glass.

“None of my business?” He looks at me like he’s in disbelief. “None of my f*cking business,” he repeats, shaking his head slowly side to side.

“That’s what I said,” I confirm coldly.

“So I guess the fact that I co-own this bar and am doing all the work is none of my business. The fact that I am your best friend, and I’m watching you spiral down a dark hole I’m not sure you will be able to find your way out of, is none of my business. The fact that my brother, my family, is throwing away his chance to be happy, I guess that’s none of my business, too.” He snags the bottle from the bar and drops it onto the back counter.

“You’re f*cking killing yourself, Deck.” He seethes, staring daggers at me.

“Good,” I snap, pouring the contents of the glass down my throat before slamming it onto the bar.

“Get your shit together or I’m cutting your ass out,” he threatens.

“You can’t do that.” I let out a dark laugh.

“Like hell I can’t. The lease of this building is in my name. The business loan is in my name.” He reminds me. “I don’t want to do this with you, Deck, I really don’t. But I also won’t continue to do all the work while you drink yourself f*cking stupid. Get. Your. Shit. Together.” He emphasizes each word. “Or I’m done. I’ve spent enough of my life picking your ass up, it’s time you learn how to do it yourself.”

“Fuck you,” I spit. “Cut me out. See if I f*cking care.”

Standing, I shove the bar stool violently, letting it crash to the floor before spinning and walking away. Gavin yells after me, but his voice is muffled and fogged by the liquor running through my veins and the amount of distance I have already put between us.

Shoving my way outside, I immediately reach for the pack of cigarettes that are shoved into the front pocket of my jeans, dropping the pack twice before finally managing to get a cigarette out.

Pressing it between my lips I light it, taking a deep inhale as I slide down onto the curb that sits just feet from the front entrance of the bar.

Who the f*ck does he think he is?

Anger seethes through my blood, my hand shaking slightly as I lift the cigarette to my lips and take another deep inhale.

“It’s a bit early isn’t it?” I hear a soft voice behind me.

I turn to the left just in time to see a petite red head slide down next to me.

“Aubrey,” I say, surprised that I even remember her name. I’d say the main reason I do is because she is the last person I slept with before Kimber.

“What are you doing here?” I turn my face forward, taking another hit of my cigarette.

“I just finished meeting my sister for lunch.” She gestures across the street. “What about you? What are you doing out here?”

“What does it f*cking look like?” I bite, ignoring the sharp inhale that sounds from her mouth at my words.

“Everything okay?” She rests her hand against my back, my body going ridged beneath her touch.

I barely know this girl. I don’t know why she feels like she has the right to push her way into my shit. Just because I f*cked her doesn’t mean were friends.

“Fucking perfect.” I blow out a stream of thick smoke.