Part 2 (2/2)

I don't know why but the action makes my stomach turn a bit. It's clear to see how crazy they are about each other and while I couldn't be happier for Decklan, that doesn't mean I want to sit here and watch them give each other googly eyes.

”Yeah. I was able to work out picking up a couple extra s.h.i.+fts at the restaurant, thank G.o.d.” She sighs.

”Getting tired of me already are you?” he teases.

”Shut up.” She giggles, laying a light smack on his stomach. ”If I want to be able to eat next semester, I need to work.”

”Yeah because I would let you starve.” He pins serious eyes on her.

”It's not your job to take care of me. I pay my own way, end of discussion.”

”I'll show you end of discussion,” he growls playfully.

”Oh and I also invited Harlee and Angel to the party Thursday night.” She ignores his comment, turning her gaze on me. ”I hope that's okay,” she adds. ”I'm pretty sure Bryan and Angel's new... Well, I'm not sure what you would call him,” she laughs, ”are going to come, too.” Her eyes study my face for a long moment before turning back up to Decklan.

”Fine by me.” Decklan smiles down at her, tucking a blonde wave of hair behind her ear.

Not f.u.c.king fine by me I want to say, but I keep my mouth shut. I finish off the remainder of my beer in one swift drink.

”Is that okay with you, Gavin?” She settles her soft smile in my direction, lifting her eyebrows slightly in question.

”I don't give a f.u.c.k,” I answer casually on a shrug, pus.h.i.+ng out of the bar stool. I cross to the trash can and drop my empty beer bottle inside. ”I'm gonna party and f.u.c.k my way into the new year no matter who is here.”

”Okay then.” Her smile widens.

I don't know why but I get the sinking feeling there is something behind that smile of hers. What's in my reaction that clearly has her amused?

I slide behind the bar, grabbing a few near empty bottles of liquor. Setting them on the back counter, I grab a pen and paper and start jotting down what we're getting low on so I can make sure to get it ordered in time for Thursday.

Deviants is mine and Decklan's baby. We bought this bar a few years back. Sunk every penny we owned into fixing it up and turning it into the successful business it is now. We still handle the everyday operations, both of us too big on control to hire a manager to handle anything for us.

”Don't forget to order extra champagne.” Decklan's voice sounds from behind me.

”Got it.” I nod without turning. ”Oh s.h.i.+t, I almost forgot.” I spin toward them just as they are about to head upstairs. ”Mom wanted me to invite you to dinner tomorrow night.”

”What's the occasion?” Decklan asks, clearly not missing the fact that it's only been a week and a half since our monthly Tuesday night Spaghetti dinner. Which is a tradition in the Porter household and one Decklan has attended for years.

h.e.l.l, he's practically family. No, he is part of the family.

”Charlie's coming home,” I say, referring to my younger sister who has been living with my aunt Pam in New York for the past three years while attending NYU.

”Seriously?” Decklan seems as surprised as I did when Mom told me the news. ”Is she just visiting?” he adds.

”No, apparently she's home for the foreseeable future.”

”Really? I thought she had another year?” he questions.

”Charlie, as in your younger sister?” Kimber interrupts, clearly a little bit out of the loop.

”Yeah,” I confirm. ”She left after finis.h.i.+ng high school.” I don't mention that I have only seen her once the entire time she's been gone.

”How long has that been?” she asks.

I have to remind myself that Kimber is new to this whole family circle. Decklan, of course, already knows the details where Charlie is concerned.

”Three years now.” I look to Deck for confirmation.

He nods in agreement before speaking again. ”s.h.i.+t. Has it really been that long?”

”She's twenty-one now,” I say.

It seems crazy to think of her being that old.

Being four years younger than me, I've always been extremely protective of her, as has Deck. I think in a lot of ways she resented that about me and that's why she's made herself so scarce over the past couple of years. Of course, deep down, I think the main reason she hasn't been coming home to visit is because it's not the same here without Dad.

”f.u.c.k.” Decklan pulls me back to the present. He runs another hand through his hair, shaking his head in disbelief. ”Twenty-one.”

”Hard to believe.” I nod in agreement. ”So you think you can make it?”

”Yeah man, you know you can count me in,” he answers.

”What about you, Kimber? You wanna join us?” I ask, knowing my mom would love to see her again.

Kimber has a love of art that my father had. It makes my mom so happy to have someone to talk Art with again. I think it reminds her of when my dad was still alive.

”Are you sure that's okay?” she questions. ”I don't want to intrude.”

”Are you kidding? You're part of the family now.” I gesture between her and Decklan.

”Whether you want to be or not,” Decklan teases, tucking her into his side.

”Then yes, of course.” Her smile spreads from ear to ear.

”Six thirty,” I confirm, waiting until Deck gives me a nod before turning back to finish my inventory.

Him and Kimber disappear upstairs moments later causing the silence of the room to settle around me. My mind immediately whirls back to what Kimber said earlier about Harlee coming Thursday night.

My fists clench involuntarily at the thought of having to watch her and that douche bag of a boyfriend hang all over each other all night. Then again, why the f.u.c.k do I care? I shake my head, trying to rid myself of whatever the f.u.c.k is causing my mind to focus on Harlee.

I need a distraction...

Dropping the pad of paper onto the counter, I slide my cell phone from my back pocket and scroll through the contacts. I click on Jenny's number the moment I see it, letting out a loud exhale as I place the phone to my ear.

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