Part 19 (2/2)
”I hate you,” I huff, sliding from my bed.
I know there's no way she's going to leave if I don't agree to go with her and as much as I love her, I really don't feel like listening to her lecture me the entire night.
”You love me,” she retorts, pulling a small smile from me.
”Fine, I love you.” I spin toward the bathroom. ”But right now I hate you a little, too,” I call over my shoulder before disappearing inside.
”What the h.e.l.l are we doing here?” I try to swallow down my panic, gripping the seatbelt running across my chest as Kimber pulls into the lot behind Deviants.
I knew as soon as she got onto the freeway that we were heading to Portland, but I just a.s.sumed we were meeting Decklan somewhere. I never dreamed in a million years she would bring me here.
”Relax.” She puts her new car in park and kills the engine, turning her gaze to me. ”He's not here.”
”I don't care. Why would you bring me here?” I try to keep my anger in check, but I feel it seeping out of every word I speak.
”Because I thought maybe you would like to have a drink and unwind with friends. Considering this is the only place where you can actually drink...” She lets her statement hang there.
”You're unbelievable,” I say in disbelief. ”This was a setup all along.” I shake my head, unable to believe that Kimber would force me into a situation I don't want to be in.
What is it with the people in my life forcing me to do things I don't want to do? Maybe I should take this as a sign. Maybe I really am that blind. So much so that the people around me feel it's their duty to intervene. I shake away the idea, not willing to accept it.
”It's not a setup,” she insists. ”Gavin is at his condo. Charlie is there visiting him. She's promised to keep him put for the evening.”
”Why would she do that?”
”Because Decklan asked her to. For me,” she answers simply, pus.h.i.+ng open the driver's side door. ”Now are you just going to sit there or are you going to come have a drink with me? You know I'm gonna need a dance partner.” She leans down, giving me a pretty please smile through the open car door.
”Who's the D.J.?” I ask, arms crossed firmly over my chest.
”Jam.” She smirks, knowing she's got me.
Jam is the best D.J. at Deviants and always plays the best music to dance to when you're drunk and just need to shake some s.h.i.+t off.
”Fine,” I grunt, shoving open the door. ”But so help me, Kimber, if Gavin shows up here tonight I'll never forgive you,” I warn, slamming the door shut behind me the moment I'm out of the way.
”If he shows up here, I'll throw him out myself.” She gives me a wide grin, her eyes turning mischievous.
Honestly, I actually believe she would do it. The thought brings a smile to my face and even though I'm walking toward a place I never thought I'd enter again, I feel lighter than I have in days.
Kimber, like Angel, seems to know exactly what I need well before I even do. I really am so blessed to have them in my life. I honestly don't know how I would have survived this past week without them. They and Joy are the only reasons I haven't sunk into the dark hole I've been tempted to disappear inside of since the moment I walked away and left Gavin standing there in the courtyard what feels like weeks ago.
The usual Friday night line outside of Deviants is longer than usual, wrapping around the entire front of the building before disappearing around the corner. The bouncer simply nods when we approach, allowing us to slip behind him without a second glance.
The moment we step inside the music engulfs us, the heavy beat of a remix pop song thumping through the crowded s.p.a.ce. Kimber grabs my hand and drags me through the sea of people toward the bar, stopping at the very edge of the counter.
”What do you want to drink?” She leans forward so I can hear her over the music.
”I don't care.” I shrug. ”Just make it hard.”
”That's what she said.” She snickers, pulling an eye roll from me.
She knows how much I hate that statement. It was funny five years ago. Now it's just overused and honestly a bit annoying. I think that's exactly why she chose to say it in the first place.
She turns her attention back to the bar just seconds before Decklan appears in front of her. She immediately leans over the bar and lays a deep kiss to his mouth, not the least bit concerned about the group of women just to our right who are clearly watching the entire exchange between them, staring daggers into the side of Kimber's face.
The whole interaction makes my stomach twinge and for a moment I understand how the women next to us feel. Not because I want to be kissing Decklan- which they so clearly do, but because it makes me miss how it felt when I kissed Gavin that way.
Decklan throws me a half smile and nods just seconds after Kimber pulls back, grabbing my hand to pull me up to the bar.
”She needs something strong,” Kimber yells over the roar of the music.
”I got just the thing.” His smile widens.
Kimber turns back to me as Decklan busies himself making our drinks.
”Why is he bartending?” I question, knowing it's not something he does often.
Where Gavin loves working behind the bar, Decklan usually only does it if he absolutely has to, preferring to spend his time on the other side of the bar.
”Matt called off and since I asked that he keep a certain someone away, he had to fill in.” She shakes her head when she sees the immediate guilt that creeps across my face. ”Don't.” She rests her hand on my forearm. ”He was happy to do it.”
”I bet he'd be much happier spending time with you,” I interject, feeling like a bit of a burden.
”He's just as happy doing things that make me happy. You being here makes me happy.” She winks, turning her attention back to the bar as Decklan reappears holding two very large, orange drinks garnished with fresh fruit.
”Don't let the looks deceive you.” He catches my confused stare. ”They'll knock you right on your a.s.s,” he promises, turning his attention to Kimber. ”Only one for you,” he adds, pulling a laugh from her.
”Yes, sir.” She winks, sticking her tongue out at him. ”He clearly knows that I am a total light weight.” She turns toward me just as she takes a drink from her straw, her eyes immediately going wide. ”Holy s.h.i.+t.” She looks at the drink like she's trying to somehow figure out what's in it.
I mirror her actions, pulling a long draw from my straw. The fruity concoction hits my tongue, the overwhelming taste of orange and pineapple dancing across my taste buds. I have no idea why Kimber reacted the way she did. That is until I swallow and a sudden fire engulfs my throat.
”What the h.e.l.l?” I look up wide-eyed at Kimber.
”I know, right,” she laughs, taking another drink.
Sliding into the two empty stools in front of us, it's not long before the alcohol has worked its way into my blood stream and everything starts to feel a little less heavy. Kimber rambles on about her and Decklan's wedding for a good thirty minutes, telling me every detail about how they plan to elope this summer. It's her subtle way of telling me she's moving out at the end of the spring term but after two drinks I barely even process the news.
Decklan's right, these drinks are no joke. I make a mental note to ask him what's in them the next time he comes over, though it's likely I'll forget by then.
I'm not really sure how much time pa.s.ses before I sense someone beside me. I turn to see Paxton settled into the stool next to me, his handsome face pulled into a tight scowl.
”You look so happy right now,” I joke, my words bordering on a slur.
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