Part 15 (2/2)

Everyone begins helping themselves as conversation flows around the table. Rosie scolds Gavin for missing their monthly spaghetti dinner. Paxton harps on Decklan about when he's going to stop living above the bar and buy a real house, to which Decklan reminds him that he has no room to talk, given that he's living with Gavin.

The bickering and playful banter that floats around me is unlike anything I have ever experienced. I have never met such a different group of people and yet every single one of them fits together to form this beautiful, chaotic mess of a family.

”Everything okay?” Gavin leans in, squeezing my leg gently under the table when he notices I haven't eaten much of my food.

”Yeah.” I smile, meeting his incredible blue eyes. ”Better than okay.” I lay my hand on top of his. ”Thank you for bringing me.” I keep my voice low as to not pull attention from the other conversations happening around us.

”Thank you for coming.” He gives me a half smile that instantly causes my heart to plummet into the bottom of my stomach.

I don't think I will ever get used to how intensely this man affects me.

”Gavin, have you spoken to that sister of yours?” Rosie interrupts the moment, pulling her son's attention to her.

”Which one?” he asks, reaching across the table to retrieve a cookie, taking a large bite the moment it reaches his lips.

”Charlie,” she answers like it should be obvious.

”Doesn't she live here?” Gavin asks, taking another bite of his cookie, reminding me more of a young boy than the strong, powerful man I know he is.

”Don't answer my question with another question. You know how much I hate that,” she scolds, wagging her finger at him as she reaches for her gla.s.s of tea.

”I haven't seen her.” He shrugs, finis.h.i.+ng off his cookie in one more large bite. ”Why do you ask?”

”Well she was out all night with friends last night but she said she'd be here for lunch. I wasn't sure if maybe you had spoken to her.”

The sound of chair legs sc.r.a.ping against the floor pulls my attention to the opposite end of the table just in time to see Paxton stand, grabbing his plate from the table.

”That girl changes her mind on a dime.” Gavin shrugs, paying no mind to Paxton as he exits into the kitchen without looking at anyone.

I glance around the table, curious as to how the person who knows him the least seems to be the only one who picks up on the fact that something is off with him. I suspected there was something between Paxton and Charlie the first time I was around them, and seeing his reaction when Rosie said she stayed out all night with friends, only further solidifies that I was right to come to that a.s.sumption. Though it would appear that I'm alone in this revelation, considering no one has even reacted to his sudden departure from the table.

”Is she enrolling at the University this spring?” Kimber redirects the conversation slightly.

”She's still undecided.” Rosie wipes her mouth on her napkin before dropping it onto the empty plate in front of her. ”Honestly, I'm just glad she's home. Having my baby all the way across the country was harder than I thought it would be. Now that all my children are back in the same state, I feel like I can breathe again.”

Just like that the conversation s.h.i.+fts in another direction, Rosie turning her attention to Kimber as she asks about how she's enjoying the semester. I swear I have never been around a group of people that can fill the silence with so many different topics in the matter of one meal.

Paxton reappears after a few minutes. He rejoins the table, his expression giving nothing away about where he went or why he left so abruptly. Like he never left at all, he joins in the conversation without skipping a beat.

I don't so much partic.i.p.ate as much as I just sit back and listen, watching everyone. I'm still trying to figure out where I fit into this group and if I even belong at all. I jump slightly when my phone springs to life in my back pocket, the sound of high pitch chiming filling the room. I thought I had put it on silent.

”Sorry,” I say, scrambling to get it out of my pocket so I can silence it.

I fumble with the b.u.t.ton, finally shutting the ringer off. It isn't until then that I even pay attention to the name flas.h.i.+ng across the screen.

Bryan.

I immediately flip my gaze to Gavin who is looking directly at me. I suck in a ragged inhale, panic flooding my insides when I realize that not only did he see who was calling my phone, but he also seems to know exactly what that means...

Chapter Eighteen.

Gavin It takes everything I have to get through the remainder of lunch without losing my s.h.i.+t. Why the f.u.c.k would that a.s.shat be calling her phone? And why the f.u.c.k did she look like she saw a ghost when she realized I had seen it was him calling?

I have trouble focusing on the road as I weave in and out of the late afternoon traffic headed back toward the university. Harlee sits completely silent next to me, staring out the window.

I open my mouth to say something several times on the ten-minute drive back to her dorm, but I want to be able to look at her when she tells me what I know is coming. I'm not a f.u.c.king idiot; if Bryan calling didn't give it away, her reaction sure as s.h.i.+t did.

”Gavin, I...” Harlee stumbles out as I pull into the parking lot just a few yards from her dorm building.

”You what?” I ask, shoving the truck into park before killing the engine. ”What, Harlee?” I push when she makes no attempt to finish her sentence.

She unlatches her seatbelt and turns toward me, pulling her left leg underneath her on the seat as she does. She holds my gaze for a long moment, clearly not sure where she should start.

”Speak.” My annoyance is clear in my voice and I don't miss the way her eyes widen slightly at my dog-like command.

I hate how frustrated I feel. It guts me honestly; to feel the way I feel about her and now to have those feelings obscured by anger. On one hand, I want to pull her into my lap and forget that she lied to me about ending things with Bryan. On the other, I know if I don't hear the truth directly from her, I won't be able to let this go.

”You have to understand, I tried...” she starts, her words falling away when a vicious laugh rips from my chest.

”Let me guess. You tried to break things off with him, but you just couldn't do it.” I mimic her demeanor. ”Why don't you try a different angle because that sob bulls.h.i.+t might work on some men,” I say, my referral to Bryan very clear. ”But it doesn't f.u.c.king fly with me.”

”Oh my G.o.d, would you stop?” Harlee finally seems to find her voice, her arms crossing in front of her chest as she straightens her posture. ”Seriously, you're acting like a f.u.c.king child,” she snaps, narrowing her eyes at me.

”That's rich.” I let out a frustrated sigh, running my hands through my hair.

”Just let me explain,” she continues as if I said nothing at all.

”Explain what exactly?” I c.o.c.k my head to the side to study her. ”Explain how you flat out lied to me when I asked you if you had ended things with Bryan?”

”I didn't lie,” she insists. ”Things are over with Bryan. I just... I just haven't exactly told him that yet.”

”You're un-f.u.c.king-believable you know that?” I cut in before she can continue.

”I'm trying to make you understand,” she tries again.

”Please, by all means, try to make me understand.” I roll my eyes, already over this entire f.u.c.king situation.

”I met Bryan for dinner on Tuesday,” she starts, ignoring the look of pure rage that takes over my face. ”I only agreed because I wanted to end things face to face,” she quickly adds. ”But when I got to the restaurant, I just couldn't do it.” She hits me with an apologetic look.

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