Crazy Stupid Love (Crazy Love #1)(9)

“God it’s so good to see you, Kim.” He gives me another tight squeeze before releasing me, taking a step back to get a good look at me.

“Garrett?” It’s all I can manage; the unexpected arrival of my ex-boyfriend placing me in a state of confusion and shock.

“What...what are you doing here?” I question.

“I missed you.” He almost whines, pouting out his bottom lip slightly.

I don’t know why but the action makes me cringe.

“How did you find me?” I question, having never mentioned to him exactly where I work in the handful of times we’ve spoken since I’ve been here.

He looks almost offended for a split second but then quickly recovers, his perfect exterior immediately falling back into place.

“Well I went to your dorm room first, but you weren’t there. Your roommate said I could find you here.” He smiles and I do my best to return the smile, at the current moment plotting my revenge on Harlee who has no idea the position she has just put me in.

I can’t blame her, of course. She knows so very little about my past or Garrett. If roles were reversed, I probably would have done the same thing.

Taking a long hard look at the man in front of me, it becomes so apparently clear how much I’ve changed since arriving in Oregon. By the look on his face as he takes in my attire, I would say he’s reaching the same conclusion.

“You look...different,” he observes, gesturing to my casual clothing.

Throwing out my skirts and blouses was one of the first things I did when I arrived here. I couldn’t bear to wear the clothing my parents’ had forced me to endure for the last eighteen years, never being allowed to express myself through fashion.

“I feel different,” I admit, flicking my eyes towards the patio where Decklan is.

My heart drops as I watch him stand, dropping cash onto the table before exiting the patio, not once looking in my direction. Disappointment creeps into my gut and quickly spreads through the rest of my body, leaving me with an almost sinking feeling.

“Kim.” Garrett pulls my attention back to him.

“Sorry. I’m working,” I say, shaking my head slightly.

“I know. Of course, of course you are. The bartender said you are finishing your shift up, I was hoping I could wait for you.” He gives me a hopeful smile.

“Yeah, okay,” I say, trying to keep my frustration in check.

I still don’t understand why he would fly across the country to see someone who has made it more than clear she doesn’t want to see him.

“Give me ten minutes. You can wait at the bar,” I say, stepping past him to make my way back out onto the patio.

Stopping in front of Decklan’s now deserted table, I pick up the hundred dollar bill he left folded on top of his check. I can’t help but wonder why in hell he left so much when his bill was under twenty dollars. Do I seem desperate for money somehow? The thought makes me slightly self-conscious, but I try to push it away. I’m sure he was just being nice.

Turning to my left, I manage to catch sight of Decklan just as he climbs onto his motorcycle that is parked across the street from the restaurant. I want to go after him, find out why he left so abruptly, but the last thing I want to do is seem desperate.

I was just his waitress and nothing more. He probably sends signals like that to every female he encounters. I was foolish to let myself think he was actually interested in me. A man who oozes sex is just that. He can’t help how he makes a woman feel, it’s just part of who he is.

Letting out a deep sigh, I turn and make my way back inside to cash out his check and the two other tables that still remain in the indoor dining area. Less than ten minutes later, I am exiting the restaurant with Garrett at my side.

I wait until we have walked several feet away from the restaurant before turning on Garrett, causing him to stop in the middle of the sidewalk. He looks from side to side and then steps towards the wall of the building behind us.

“Why did you stop?” He seems confused.

“I can’t do this, Garrett. I can’t just pretend like you showing up here is a good thing. It’s not. I asked you for time,” I start.

“And I gave it to you.” He cuts me off, keeping his voice low.

If there is one thing Garrett hates, it’s public conflict. He hates drawing unwanted attention to himself.

“No, you didn’t.” I shake my head. “You’ve called me multiple times a day since I’ve been here and now you just show up. I’ve been gone eight weeks, Garrett. Eight, and already here you are.”

“Why is it such a bad thing that I miss you, that I want to speak to you, that I want to see you?” He runs a hand through his perfectly styled brown hair, clearly frustrated.

“Because I don’t want to see you,” I say, instant guilt swarming my stomach with the hurt that I can see in his dark eyes.

“Look.” I try to soften the blow. “I told you when I left, I will never find out who I really am unless I am given a chance to figure it out. I can’t be your girlfriend. I can’t be my parents’ daughter. I need to be Kimber. Just Kimber.”

“I still don’t understand why you have to rid yourself of everyone to figure out what you want in life.” He crosses his arms in front of himself, his gray collared fleece bunching at his chest.