Perfect Imperfection

by Jennifer Preston

  And all the while she’d refused to even speak to him, ignoring him while she cozied up to Seb. It was enough to drive him mad.

  But there were a few moments when Cole thought he might be wrong, that she might still have feelings for him. When she’d walked through those doors, looking like an ivory angel, he hadn’t imagined the electricity that flashed between them when their eyes met. Nor had he missed the longing on her beautiful face, the heat that rushed up her cheeks. Then, she had ever so subtly brushed against him as they walked, her shoulder and arm brushing his like she couldn’t help herself. His heart had leapt at her touch, slight as it was, and his body sang at her nearness. For that brief moment, the heaviness in his heart had lifted, and he felt like he could breath for the first time in months. But then she’d caught herself, and made sure to keep her distance, using Seb to shield her.

  He knew he shouldn’t be angry with Seb. It was Cole’s own actions that had sent Bri running to him. But still, the thought of Bri with anyone who wasn’t him had Cole seeing red, best friend or not.

  But he couldn’t let his anger rule him, not anymore. He’d spent a lot of time, and money, working to overcome the shortfalls of his character. He’d spent the past year trying to become a better person, someone worthy of Bri, someone she could be proud of. And while he was still a work in progress, he was determined to make her see that he had changed, that he wasn’t the same self-absorbed prick who had foolishly brushed her aside.

  He had a lot to make up for, and a long road ahead of him. But he was determined not to let anything come between him and Bri again. He wouldn’t ruin things this time. There was still something between them, he was sure of it. He would find a way to prove to her that she could trust him again. He would make up for every hateful thing he’d ever said or done. And he’d wait as long as he had to for her to forgive him.

  They belonged together. He just had to get her to remember that.

  Chapter 4

  Seb pulled up in his beautiful vintage Mustang, and Bri rushed out to meet him.

  She’d spent the few hours she’d had before the rehearsal dinner stoking her anger, and using that fury to rebuild her defensive walls that seemed to have crumbled at the first sight of Cole. She was determined to regain control of her emotions.

  She realized that indifference would not work, so she settled on rage instead. Remembering all of the terrible things Cole had said and done, how much he’d hurt her, had her anger at a boiling point by the time Seb came to pick her up. She wasn’t going to risk another reaction like she’d had earlier that afternoon. She refused to feel anything for him but hate, so she loosed her fury and let it simmer just below the surface. She wasn’t going in unprepared again.

  Smiling at Seb, she climbed into his car, and they rumbled down the street.

  “Okay, you were right,” Bri remarked as they growled onto the freeway. “Your car is an experience not to be missed.”

  “Thank you,” Seb smiled proudly, lovingly patting the dash. “She’s a beauty. You ready for this?” he glanced at her sideways. “Round two?”

  “Yep,” she replied. “I know what I’m walking into this time.”

  “Okay. Well, I’m here if you need me.” He reached over and squeezed her hand, and Bri felt her heart clench. Seb was so good to her, had always been so good to her. She couldn’t help but wonder what would have happened if she’d met him first, instead of Cole. If she had never fallen in love with Cole, could she and Seb have been happy together? Shaking herself out of her delusions, she focused on the road in front of her. It didn’t do any good thinking about what-ifs. The fact was she had met Cole first. There was no use dwelling on things she couldn’t change. She and Seb were friends, best friends, and she wouldn’t change that for the world.

  They pulled into the restaurant parking lot, and Bri let out a relieved breath when she didn’t see Cole’s motorcycle anywhere. She’d take as much time without him as she could get. Seb opened her door, and they walked into the banquet room Layla’s parents had reserved for dinner. Layla and Devon were surrounded by a large group of relatives, all vying for the couple’s attention, so Bri just waved to Layla and she and Seb headed to the far end of the table where there were still some empty seats. There was still no sign of Cole, and she had just begun to relax when someone slid into the seat next to her.

  “Is this seat taken?”

  She turned and glared at Cole, who just sat there smirking at her. He’d removed his jacket, and rolled up the sleeves of his blue dress shirt. He looked cool and casual, and she hated him for it.

  Refusing to respond, she turned away and tried to start a conversation with Seb, who was eying her warily. Unfortunately, she was still all too aware of Cole as he sat there watching her. She could feel his eyes boring into her, and her pulse began to race. Inwardly she fortified her walls of anger and disgust, praying that they were strong enough to hold this time.

  “You can’t ignore me forever, you know,” Cole’s voice murmured in her ear, and she froze. His breath tickled her neck, causing goose bumps to break out over her shoulders. He hadn’t been this close to her in a long time, and those damn pesky urges from earlier were rising up again.

  Closing her eyes, she drew a breath and summoned all of her fury, effectively extinguishing those more benevolent feelings. Steeling herself, she turned to him, and arched a brow at his challenge. Unwilling to speak to him, she let her eyes do the talking for her. Oh really? they said. That’s exactly what I plan to do.

  “I hate to tell you this, but I’m not going anywhere.” He leaned in closer to her, so close they were sharing the same breath. “The silent treatment is childish, Bri. I’ve never known you to run from confrontation before.”

  He was goading her, she knew, trying to get a reaction. But her indignation overrode any plans she’d had to retain the upper hand.

  “I’m not being childish,” she hissed, eyes narrowed angrily. She’d let him get to her, and she hated it. “I just have nothing at all to say to you.”

  “Come on, Bri,” he smirked. “What are you afraid of? Surely if you hated me as much as your eyes say you do, you’d have no problem releasing the full force of your anger on me. But you’re not. It’s very un-Bri-like of you.” He paused a moment, studying her. “Maybe you’re trying so hard to convince me that you hate me because you feelings are in fact quite the opposite?” He grinned at her, a malicious glint in his eye.

  Bri’s jaw dropped at his gall. Fuming anger surged up, and she opened her mouth to let him have it- the dinner be damned- when Devon clinked his fork against his glass, forestalling her tirade. She sat back with a huff.

  “I’d like to thank you all for coming, and for supporting Layla and me like you have.” He smiled at the table. “To start, I thought it’d be a good idea for everyone to introduce themselves, so our families can get to know each other. Since everyone already knows me and Layla, you get to go first, Dad,” Devon slapped the man sitting next to him on the back, earning himself a wry smile.

  One by one, everyone took a turn introducing themselves and telling how they were related to either Layla or Devon. It was awkward enough being some of the few non-relatives in the room, but to make it even more awkward, Bri couldn’t pull her attention from the person next to her. His shoulder was only inches from hers, crowded as they were around the table, and every time he moved, Bri was certain he brushed against her on purpose. Every twitch caused her breath to catch in anticipation- good or bad, she didn't know.

  When it was finally Cole’s turn, he stood up smoothly and gave everyone his most charming smile. He told a funny story about Devon and Layla, threw in a joke or two, and by the time he sat down again, the whole table was enthralled. Not a few of the ladies, Devon’s grandmother included, were practically drooling at him, starry eyed and captivated. Annoyed and disgusted, Bri rolled her eyes at the triumphant smile he shot her. She tried to reign in her frustration as she introduced herself to Layla and Devon’s families, but
she wasn’t nearly as charming or eloquent as Cole had been, the bastard. Luckily, Seb got up after her and rolled over the awkwardness of Bri’s short speech, by relaying how he had been Layla’s knight in shining armor that day, and no one paid Bri anymore attention. Well, almost no one.

  The introductions over, dinner was served and the table fell into small groups of conversation. Not being a member of either family left Bri, Seb, and Cole as outsiders, which unfortunately meant they had only each other to talk to.

  “So,” Cole leaned into Bri, speaking softly, “have anything to say to me yet?”

  “No, I don’t,” she snapped, her patience wearing thin. “You are a vindictive, self-absorbed ass, and I am not wasting any more of my time on you.”

  His eyes narrowed at her. “No, I see who you’re wasting your time on now. I always figured you and Seb would get together. True love, is it?” He raised a condescending eyebrow at her. “I didn’t realize your heart was so fickle.”

  “Who I waste my time on is no longer any of your business.” Her cheeks heated with outrage. “You gave up any right you had to get angry about who I date when you slept with Jillian. It was your heart that was fickle, not mine. You don’t get to get angry at me because I’ve moved on.”

  “Oh really? Not even when you move on to my best friend? I think that entitles me to some anger.”

  “You left first! You chose this. Things are the way they are because of you. It’s your fault you aren’t a part of my life anymore, and you don’t get to comment on anything I choose to do. So back the hell off!”

  The sudden silence in the room finally penetrated Bri’s angry haze, and she realized that she’d been yelling. Alarmed, she glanced at the people around her, all of who were staring and gaping at her, their meals forgotten. Her eyes found Layla’s, and shame flooded her.

  “Could you excuse us for a moment?” Cole’s smooth voice broke in. His face was flushed with anger as he gripped her arm and pulled her from her seat. She was too shocked to do anything but let him.

  He led her out of the restaurant, turning into a small alley next to the building. He immediately released her, running both his hands through his hair.

  “Damn it, Bri, I didn’t mean to do that.”

  His remorse and self-recrimination were evident in his voice, and Bri paused. Not sure what to do or say, she just watched him warily.

  Cole took a deep breath, and then looked up at her, distress written on his face. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to start a fight with you. It’s the last thing I wanted to do,” he shook his head. “It’s just, when I saw you and Seb together, I… I just couldn’t seem to stop myself,” he finished softly. “I was an idiot, and I apologize.”

  Shocked, Bri just nodded mechanically. His impromptu apology had thrown her, and she still wasn’t sure what was going on.

  “But we have a serious problem here, Bri,” Cole continued, pinning her with his gaze. “We need to find a way to be in the same room together without tearing each other’s heads off. What just happened in there can’t happen again. It’s not fair to Layla and Devon.”

  The last of her anger dissipated, and she deflated against the brick wall behind her.

  “I know. You’re right,” she sighed, her shame eating away at her. “We promised Lay and Dev we could handle this. We need to be able to act like adults. They shouldn’t have to worry about what’s going on with us.” She refused to ruin Layla’s wedding with their petty bickering. As angry as Cole made her, she loved Layla more.

  “Yes,” he nodded, his eyes never leaving her. “I’m glad we can agree on that at least.”

  His constant stare was beginning to make her uncomfortable. His eyes were stirring up butterflies in her stomach, and not the nervous kind.

  “Now that we’re here,” his eyes turned hopeful, “there are some things I need to tell you, things I need to explain, if you’ll let me.”

  “No.” Bri held up her hand to stop him. “I don’t want to talk, and I don’t want you to explain. What’s past is past, and I don’t want to dwell on it anymore. I just want to get through the next two days without ruining Layla’s wedding, and then we can go our separate ways.”

  He stepped up to her, his body only inches from hers.

  “Really?” he asked huskily. “Is that what you really want? To never see me again?”

  He was too close. She could feel the heat from his body, her eyes tracing the long, lithe contours under his suit. Her eyes moved to his lips and she felt a pang of longing so strong she almost whimpered.

  “Yes,” she made herself reply, but her weak, breathy voice proclaimed otherwise.

  “Look at me, Bri.”

  Unwilling to back down, she forced herself to meet his gaze. Cole watched her a moment, his eyebrows furrowed, before stepping back. Bri inhaled, finally able to breathe. It was always dangerous being that close to him. The man was a force of nature, and she could never seem to control her body or her emotions when she was near him. But, that wasn’t completely her fault. Cole Marra was a thinly veiled black hole that would suck you in if you got too close. And then there was no escaping him.

  “Fine.” He dropped his eyes. Finally released from their intensity, Bri slumped back into the wall. “Let’s make a deal, then. I won’t pick any more fights with you, and you won’t bite my head off or yell at me. We’ll both be civil and pleasant. And then, after the reception tomorrow night, we’ll go our separate ways and that will be it. You think you can do that?”

  “Yes. Do you?” she arched her eyebrow.

  Slowly he nodded.

  “But, Bri,” he looked up at her again, his eyes blazing. “Before we part ways forever, you will let me explain. We are going to talk, and you will listen to what I have to say. Then, if you still want me out of your life, I’ll go. But not until I’ve had the chance to explain.”

  He turned and walked around the corner, without giving her a chance to reply. Bri stood there another moment, collecting herself, before pushing off and following him. He was waiting for her at the door to the restaurant.

  “So, a truce, then?” He reached for the door handle.

  “A truce,” she nodded.

  “Good,” he suddenly smiled mischievously. “I can work with a truce.”

  Bri’s jaw dropped as he opened the door and pushed her through ahead of him. What the heck did he mean by that? Glancing back warily at him, she was a little worried to find out.

  As they re-entered the banquet room, everyone was finishing up their dinner. No one said anything as she and Cole took their seats, and Bri was extremely grateful. She glanced over at Layla and gave her an apologetic smile. Layla nodded and smiled back, and Bri’s guilt lifted.

  The rest of the dinner passed smoothly, free from any more incidents, save the concerned and curious looks Seb kept shooting her. When everyone finally started filing out, Bri grabbed Seb’s arm and they ducked out of the restaurant before Cole could corner her again. Cole didn’t make idle threats, and she knew he’d force her to talk to him sooner rather than later. But she was going to try to forestall that conversation as long as she possibly could.

  “Oh, just a heads up,” she began as they finally escaped the claustrophobic confines of the restaurant. “Cole kind of thinks we’re dating, and he’s pretty upset about it. You might want to straighten that out before things go all World War III between you two again.” She felt kind of bad dumping that problem in Seb’s lap to fix, but only a little bit.

  “Yeah, I kind of picked up on that. I’ll call him later and talk to him.” He turned and gave her a questioning stare. “Why didn’t you just set him straight earlier when you two disappeared?”

  Bri looked down, guilty.

  “I don’t know. Maybe because I kind of like pissing him off,” she admitted reluctantly. She knew she shouldn’t like making Cole angry. It was wrong and hurtful, but she couldn’t help it. It made her feel better to see him so frustrated and upset.

  Seb burst out laugh
ing, and Bri snapped her head up. That definitely wasn’t the reaction she’d expected after admitting that she was a mean, awful person.

  “That’s my girl,” he grinned at her. “Don’t you dare make it easy on him.”

  “Don’t make what easy on him?” she asked, confused, but before he could answer Layla rushed over, pulling Bri in for a hug.

  “Everything okay?” she whispered.

  “Yeah. Sorry about earlier. I let my temper get the best of me.”

  “Are you up for this? Really?” Layla pulled back and looked her in the eye. “Because if this is too much to ask of you…”

  “Layla,” Bri cut her off. “There is no way I am not going to be your maid of honor tomorrow. Cole and I talked, and we came to an agreement. No more fighting like two year olds. We will behave, I promise.” She gave her friend a rueful smile.

  Layla continued to eye her skeptically.

  “It’s fine, Lay. I’m a big girl. I can handle it.”

  “Okay,” Layla finally conceded. She turned to Seb with a smile. “Thanks again, Seb for all your help. I really don’t know what I’d have done without you today.”

  “I’ll be your hero anytime,” he winked.

  “You are good at the hero stuff. You’ve been mine for a while now.” Bri smiled up at him. He just shrugged, returning her smile sadly.

  “Well then,” Layla pulled Bri’s attention back to her. “You’d better get home fast and get changed because tonight is going to be epic! Chris Carrabba, baby!”

  Layla’s parents had rented out a small club for Layla’s bachelorette party, and had booked Chris Carrabba to perform. Layla had been anxiously awaiting this night her whole adolescent life.

  “Who knows, if you’re lucky maybe you’ll get to make out with a super hot, angsty, tattooed god tonight,” Layla grinned wickedly.

  “Don’t even try it, Layla Monroe.” Bri eyed her sternly. “I’m not making out with anyone tonight, so whatever it is you’re scheming in that twisted brain of yours, you stop it right now.”