Part 6 (2/2)

”Well I don't know how much of a pleasure meeting that a.s.shat is, but I'll tell him you said so.” He laughs at my obvious joking.

”Quite a place you guys have over there. I appreciate you guys showing us such a great time.” He seems completely at ease with me which bothers me more than it should.

The last thing I want him to feel in my presence is comfortable.

”Glad you enjoyed yourself.” I nod.

”Oh we did, didn't we, babe.” He drops an arm over Harlee's shoulder. The action causes me to twitch slightly.

”We did,” she confirms, wrapping her arm around his waist as if to make a point about my earlier statement.

”You want to go grab some coffee?” He turns his attention back to Harlee, tucking a long strand of light blonde hair behind her ear. His hand lingers on the side of her face just a fraction too long, and I have to shove my hands into my pockets to keep myself from pus.h.i.+ng him off of her.

”Sure.” She gives him a sweet smile, pus.h.i.+ng up to lay a kiss to his jaw.

Now who's toying with whom?

”Gavin, you're welcome to join us.” Bryan turns back to me.

The laid back surfer thing he has going on for whatever reason grates on me. Probably because if not for the woman standing between us, I might actually like the c.o.c.k sucker.

Regardless, I have no desire to sit and watch him hang all over Harlee. Of course, the thought of what might happen if I'm not there is even worse.

”No. No thanks.” I shake my head, not missing the relief that flashes across Harlee's face. ”It was good seeing you again, Harlee,” I say, meeting her eyes for a brief moment. ”Nice meeting you, man.” I nod toward Bryan.

”You, too,” he calls after me as I take off down the sidewalk back toward my truck.

Anger spirals through me. It takes everything I have not to turn around and force her to come with me. That little s.h.i.+t display she put on was the weakest attempt I have ever seen at trying to deter me from pursuing her.

If anything, she has made this an even more interesting little game we seem to be playing now. She wants to dangle her little boy in front of me? She thinks that's gonna scare me off? She has no f.u.c.king clue who the h.e.l.l she's dealing with.

Challenge accepted.

Chapter Eight.

Harlee ”Why am I doing this?” I stare at my reflection, wondering what on earth could have possessed me to agree to Kimber's invitation for dinner when I had already declined Gavin's.

I catch my hazel eyes in the floor length mirror and study myself for a long moment. As much as I try to convince myself that the only reason I am doing this is because Kimber asked me to, I know that's not the case. Just like with New Year's, a part of me is one hundred percent aware that my reasoning has much more to do with a handsome c.o.c.ky bar owner than it does my friend.

No matter how much I tell myself what a horrible idea this is, I'm determined to prove to myself that I can exist in a world where Gavin Porter is nothing more than my friend's boyfriend's best friend.

I've made my choice. Bryan. He's sweet and kind, fun and charming. He doesn't send me soaring on the emotional rollercoaster that Gavin does. He doesn't play games or purposely try to rile me up to see how far he can push me. He wants nothing more from me than me. I'd be an idiot to throw all that away for a man like Gavin Porter.

Taking a deep breath, I straighten the hem of my black sweater dress before taking a step back to inspect the rest of my attire; dark gray leggings partnered with two-inch black heels. It's a cute outfit but casual enough that it doesn't look like I'm trying too hard. This is exactly the type of outfit a girl wears out to a casual dinner with friends which is precisely why I picked it.

I decided to leave my long light blonde hair hanging down my back in loose curls and kept my makeup light; limiting myself to nude colors, a light coating of mascara, and clear lip gloss. I'm trying my best not to try too hard and yet I still can't help but feel like trying too hard is exactly what I'm doing.

”You ready? Car's here.” Kimber pulls my attention to where she's standing next to the door, a small clutch purse in her hand.

I hadn't even realized she was ready yet, but it's clear to see she's been waiting on me for at least a couple minutes now. I scan my eyes down her short, slender frame. Per usual, she looks amazing. Like me she's wearing a long sweater, only hers is blue and gray striped and paired with tight dark skinny jeans.

”Ready.” I sigh, grabbing my wristlet purse from the dresser before crossing the s.p.a.ce toward her. ”Your hair looks really cute like that,” I say, reaching out to trail my fingers through the ends of her blonde waves which are tied off in a loose side pony.

”You don't think I look like I'm twelve?” She crinkles her nose.

”Not even a little.” I laugh, pulling open the door to our dorm room before following her out into the hallway.

”Thank you again for coming. As much as I love Decklan's friends, I always get nervous whenever we do a group function. It makes me feel better knowing at least one person there is on my side.” She throws me a sideways smile before pus.h.i.+ng her way outside.

I immediately wrap my arms around myself, a crisp breeze blowing across my face the moment we step out into the chilly evening air. I probably should have thought to wear a coat but honestly, I hate lugging one around unless I know I'm going to be outside for any real length of time.

Thankfully, it doesn't take us long to reach the cab sitting on the curb just a few feet from the sidewalk. It isn't until we slide into the back that I turn my attention back to Kimber.

”Why did Decklan not pick you up?” I ask.

”Because it's freezing on his motorcycle for one. I don't know how he manages to ride that thing twelve months a year.” She s.h.i.+vers just thinking about it. ”Besides, did you expect him to fit both of us on the back?” she laughs.

”I guess I didn't think about that,” I admit.

”The restaurant is local, so it cost next to nothing to pay a cab. I guess Gavin didn't want Charlie to have to travel all the way to Portland so everyone is coming down this way. I would have suggested he pick us up, but he's already giving Paxton and Charlie a ride so it's doubtful they could have squeezed us into his truck, too.”

I don't know why I never thought to ask where we were going. The fact that we are going somewhere in Eugene is news to me. I just a.s.sumed we'd be driving to Portland. My stomach twists slightly at the thought of being in a location where Bryan might walk in.

I'm just going out with friends, I remind myself. Bryan knows I'm having dinner with Kimber and a few others. I'm not doing anything wrong. But if that's the case, why do I already feel so d.a.m.n guilty?

”Did you tell Gavin I was coming with you?” I ask, pulling Kimber's attention from looking out the window, back to me.

”I told Decklan. Not sure if he mentioned it or not. Why do you ask?” She hits me with suspicious eyes.

”Just wondering. He invited me to come with you guys; I told you that. But at the time I didn't think I'd be able to, so I told him I couldn't.”

Up to this point, I have divulged very little about my situation with Gavin to Kimber. I don't want to put her in an awkward position where she's stuck between the two of us. To be completely honest, I'm not really sure how I would explain what's going on anyway. It's all so random and confusing.

She knows we talked New Year's, though I left out the earth-bending kiss. She also knows I ran into him on Sunday after having lunch with Joy but again, I didn't tell her anything about him kissing me. As far as I've told her, we have put aside the fact that we slept together a couple months ago and have decided to try to be friends.

”Gotcha. Well, either way, I'm sure it's fine.” She gives me a warm smile before turning her attention back out the window. She seems distracted for some reason. She keeps knotting her hands in her lap like she's nervous.

I hope it doesn't have anything to do with me. A s.h.i.+ver of panic runs through me. What if she knows I'm lying to her? A part of me feels like she believes me. The other part feels like she knows I am full of complete and total s.h.i.+t. Either way, I'm sticking to my story.

I feel bad keeping secrets from Kimber. In the few months we have been roommates, we have become extremely close. She trusted me when everything went down with her and Decklan, and yet here I am shutting her out.

Just another thing to add to my list of ways that I suck.

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