Part 20 (1/2)

s.h.i.+t, I think I'm a little drunk.

”Yeah, well.” He shrugs, nodding toward Val, who within seconds has a beer sitting on the bar in front of him.

”Wanna talk about it?” I ask, not sure I really want to know.

”Nope.” He raises the beer bottle to his lips and drains half the bottle in one drink.

”That bad huh?” I kick my leg over Kimber's stool when a college-aged man tries to sit down. ”Taken.” I smile, immediately wondering what is taking Kimber so long in the bathroom. I feel like she's been gone forever.

”You have no idea.” He sighs, pulling my attention back to him.

”Girl trouble?” I question.

”Something like that.”

”Well, you've come to the right place. I'm having major girl trouble.” It takes me a moment to realize what I just said, giggling the instant it dawns on me. ”I mean boy trouble,” I correct. ”I like boys, not girls. I mean, I like d.i.c.k. Oh my G.o.d. I just said that out loud, didn't I?” I ramble, watching as Paxton's lips turn up in an amused smile.

”You're cute.” He drinks the remainder of his beer in one more long gulp, sliding the empty bottle across the bar. ”I can see why Gavin is so taken with you,” he adds, nodding once again when Val slides another beer across the bar to him.

”Yeah, not so much anymore.” I sigh, leaning forward to take a sip out of my own drink.

”Maybe someone should tell him that.” He chuckles, lifting the beer bottle to his lips. ”From where I'm sitting, he's still very much taken with you.”

”Yeah well, from where I'm sitting, I'm pretty sure he hates my guts. Love sucks,” I grind out, once again catching the slur in my voice. ”Where the h.e.l.l is Kimber?” I change course without warning.

”I saw her and Decklan go upstairs on my way in,” He answers without looking in my direction.

”f.u.c.king wh.o.r.e,” I blurt, covering my mouth when once again the words meant for my mind flow out.

Paxton makes a choking noise as he struggles to swallow his beer before bursting out in laughter. ”You have no f.u.c.king filter. You realize this right?”

”Me?” I question. ”That's completely untrue. Didn't you hear, I'm the coward who hides behind her own excuses.”

”Well, that's okay because I'm the a.s.shole who d.i.c.ks over his friend and completely f.u.c.ks everything up every chance he gets.” I can tell by his reaction that he regrets his statement the moment he makes it.

I suspect his current mood has something to do with Charlie, but I keep that a.s.sumption to myself. It's clear it's not something anyone knows about, if there's anything going on at all. Maybe I'm just seeing things that aren't there. It certainly wouldn't be the first time.

”We should start a club,” I offer, holding my drink up.

”And what should we call said club?” He turns toward me, a small smirk on his face.

”How about The f.u.c.k Love Club?” I suggest.

”f.u.c.k love,” he agrees, clinking his beer bottle against my gla.s.s before we both drink.

There's a smile on my lips the moment I resurface from the bottom of my gla.s.s. While Paxton and I have said nothing at all, we've also said so much. For the first time since ending things with Gavin, I feel a little less alone in this world.

That is until I register Paxton's expression, his eyes focused on something across the room. I follow his line of sight, all the air rus.h.i.+ng from my body when I see Gavin standing at the other end of the bar, his eyes locked firmly on my face.

And he doesn't look happy to see me...

Chapter Twenty-three.

Gavin I can't take my eyes off of her. She seems fine. Happy even. How the f.u.c.k can she just sit there, laughing and drinking with one of my best friends, in my f.u.c.king bar, like everything is just f.u.c.king peachy?

Anger flares in my chest, my gaze darting toward Paxton who catches sight of me instantly, the smile falling from his face.

Yeah, you better quit smiling at my girl, you mother f.u.c.ker.

My girl?

Too bad she's not my f.u.c.king girl anymore.

I watch in slow motion as Harlee looks toward Paxton and then follows his gaze, her eyes finding mine within seconds. I watch her face fall in shock followed by the deep flush that fills her cheeks, evident even in the dim bar lighting.

She makes no attempt to move or even really react for that matter. She just sits there, staring at me like she's seeing a ghost.

I break eye contact when the door beside me opens, Decklan and Kimber suddenly appearing just feet from where I'm standing. I can see the panic that immediately floods Kimber's pretty face and the apology written across Decklan's when he meets my gaze.

Now I know why Charlie tried so d.a.m.n hard to keep my a.s.s at home. She knew Harlee was here. Every single one of these f.u.c.kers knew she was here and what's worse? They purposely kept her from me.

The sting of their betrayal is real, but it barely registers on my already pain-riddled heart. I don't think anything can hurt me the way Harlee did. And as such, everything else seems like a tiny blip in comparison.

I look back at Harlee to find her eyes are still locked in my direction.

”Gavin.” Decklan lays a hand on my shoulder, pulling my attention back to him.

”Don't.” I shake his hand off my shoulder. ”When you p.i.s.sed away what you had with Kimber, who was there to help you get her back? Who hand delivered her to you? I did. This is how you repay me? You bring Harlee here and then get my little sister to play babysitter to make sure I don't find out?”

”This is my fault,” Kimber immediately interrupts. ”I asked him to do it,” she admits apologetically. ”I just wanted to get her out of her room.”

”And you couldn't have done that somewhere else?” I bite, knowing the moment it leaves my mouth that I'm treading on very thin ice. The way Decklan steps in front of Kimber to s.h.i.+eld her from me is all the indication I need.

”Careful,” he warns.

”f.u.c.k you, Deck,” I spit, anger seething through me. ”Good to see when I need a true friend I have none.”

”That's bulls.h.i.+t and you know it. We're brothers man.” He clasps his hand on my shoulder again, this time tightening his grip enough that I can't easily shake him off. ”I wanted to respect what Kimber was trying to do for her friend without rubbing her in your face. This isn't some big conspiracy against you. I was trying to spare you.” He tightens his hand on my shoulder, forcing me to meet his gaze.

”You should have told me.” I grind out.

”I'm sorry.” His apology is genuine, that much I can tell. But it does nothing to slow the flames that have burst to life in my chest.