Page 35 of Imperfections Seduced

I watch Ava lead Chris back into the crowd on the dance floor when we get back to the table. I’m about to offer Cat a ride home when Matt calls her name.

“Cat, can I give you a ride home?”

“Back up, playboy, I got this.” I stand up and hold my hand out to her.

“Thanks, Nick, but I’m leaving with Chris.” She looks at my hand hesitantly and looks back into the crowd where Chris and Ava disappeared.

“No, you’re not. Chris is trashed. Ava will take him home.”

“You’re not too steady yourself. How are you going to get her home, golden boy?” Matt says.

“I’m not driving, wise ass, my driver is.”

“That figures. You always come prepared, don’t you?”

“Yeah, I do.” I take Cat’s hand and throw three hundred-dollar bills on the table. “That’s for our drinks.” I pull Cat with me from the table, not giving her a chance to hug Matt. He’s had his damn hands on her enough.

“I forgot to tell Chris I’m leaving.”

“Don’t worry, Ava will tell him, he won’t mind. He seems to have warmed up to her in his current condition.”

“Are you sure she won’t try to take advantage of him on the way home?” She giggles and looks back in their direction.

“That I can’t guarantee.”

It’swindy as we walk outside and wait for my driver. I look down at her and see a shiver run through her. “Are you all right?”

“Yes.” She doesn’t look at me, instead keeping her eyes looking straight ahead.

“No, you’re not, come here.” I take her by the hand and pull her to my side. “What, are you afraid I’m going to bite you?”

“Not at all.”

“You’re cold.”

“A little.”

“I’ll keep you warm.” I wrap my arms around her, and we stand there for about sixty seconds before the car pulls up in front of us. In those sixty seconds, I wanted to tell her all the things I’ve done wrong and hope that she will forgive me.

She lifts her head off my chest, and I can see for the first time in a long time what I’ve been missing—her. I look deep into her eyes when I tell her.

“I’m sorry.”

She licks her lips, staring back up into my eyes. I can barely hear her response, her voice is so low. “For what?”

“For letting you go.”

Still looking at me, not blinking and with her lips parted, she says, “The car’s here.”

I back up and open the door for her. We don’t say a thing to each other until the car starts moving again. She sits as far away from me as she can, staring out the window. The partition is up in the car, separating us from the driver. I roll it down and give him her address before I roll it back up. “Hey, you okay?”

“Yeah, why?”

“You had two Long Island iced teas. I know you’re not a drinker, and those things can sneak up on you.”

“I’m good. Do you think we can listen to something?”

“Sure, what do you want to listen to? My phone is plugged into the speakers.”