Chasing Imperfection (Chasing Series 2) (32 page)

     “What’s with the twenty questions?”
I
quirk
ed
up a brow. He laughed
huskily
and shrugged.

     “To be quite honest—
when I
first
saw you
—I was
curious
but later found out that you were Blake’s. I just wanted to
know why you two aren’t together when his eyes tell me something else.”

     Dish or not to dish?
He will eventually hear it from someone. What’s the point of hiding things anyway? It gets exhausting and he seems to be decent. Well, apart from
his
womanizing lifestyle
, t
here seemed to be a good man inside.

     I sighed and consented. “We broke up because I found out about the thing with the Clayworth’s. We didn’
t speak for about
two months—then we sort of got together.
After a couple days, that fell apart because I slept with my childhood best friend, Kyle—an ex as well. From then on, it went downhill. Today, he told me that he planned to rectify his marriage of convenience with Camilla. I then confessed that I loved him. Which he profusely didn’t believe—then he offered a month for me to prove it to him.”

      “
That was a copious amount of information.
Knowing my kin, he doesn’t condone sharing his girlfriends. But if it’s just a shag—then that’s a
different matter.
You’re direct and forward. I find that rejuvenating—especially amongst these deluded façade
s
of perfection our lot revolves in.” I looked at him in shock then guffawed.

      What an amusing man. He doesn’t take himself too seriously.
“
D
eluded façade of perfection?
Seriously,
coming from a man who only goes for the crème de la crème of women?” I
wiggled a
finger at him. “You can’t fool me—you’re quite the famous libertine around town.”

     We carried on walking when h
e belted out a roaring laugh. “
Precisely
, I am part of that lot.
In
my defense, these lassies tend to not adhere to the word ‘no
.
’ An indecent
,
cheeky man such as myself, tend
s
to not hold out for much.
T
ruth be told, being naughty is
certainly
more
diverting and gratifying rather than a monotonous repetitive lifestyle like some pompous, snobbish privileged folks. Alas, soon that
will
change when father gives me more responsibility. Then life as I know it will forever be a distant memory.”

     “That must suck but I guess that comes with birthright, I suppose? You and Blake are quite lucky. You two have the world at the tip
s
of your fingers.”

     “Most people would say that—I
must admit
there are certain advantages to it. I suppose I could be thankful that my life isn’t like Blake’s. My father’s company is
enormous but Blake’s responsibility—
whew
—I’d gladly take mine any time of the day.”
Clive really did look relieved. Ha.

     “He looks like he’s handling it well
.
”

     “Precisely,
he
is Blake Knightly. Do you know when he was eighteen, he
was
acknowledged to
already
be a bu
siness whizz? That’s why it made sense for him to pair
up
with Camilla. I was quite shocked when I heard the news of the severed agreement—and
even
more so when
I found out
he did it due to another woman. I didn’t quite understand it—
but now that I’ve met you
—I do now.
Tell me
, what happens if the month is over and he still doesn’t
believe
your love and affection?”

     Good question there buddy. I guess he moves on and gets married then I will be back to my college life. “
He would resume his life as he saw it before I entered the picture.”

     He nodded and placed his hands in his pockets. “That’s quite sad, isn’t it? To love someone and
not
have it work out?”

     I took a quick peek at him and he seemed to be deep in thought. “Yes, it definitely does. Are you speaking from experience, Clive?”

     His face split into two, looking at me like I’ve lost it. “Good God no, that would be a bloody disaster.
I thought
—of all the satyr’s I never did think Blake had it in him to fall in love—
but
if
he did—
it could only be done by such a compelling woman. That p
roves
a lot about you, Sienna.”

     “Um…thanks?”
I smiled
at the handsome charming man
.
“
W
e should get back. I don’t want them to worry. My friends tend to go overboard sometimes with worrying. I don’t want to be the person in the hot seat tonight.”

     “Of course”

     The stroll back was quite nice, Clive was refreshingly funny. When we got there, Madeline looked at us scornfully.
Ick
, the woman has a serious thing for Clive, but
he
doesn’t want to entertain it from what I’ve seen for the past few days.

     Clive Barrington did arrive with his own party crowd of twenty people or so. It included this weird Madeline woman. I shrugged and left them to party.

     I entered the Arabian-themed
tent and lounged next to Lucy.
She was
texting
on her phone and looked up in surprise when she found me. “
What have you been up to all on your own? Where’s Chad?”
I inquired.

     “Chad’s is about the perimeters with Luke. I think those two are bonking.
I’m ecstatic!
Lover needed to let off some heavy steam and I guarantee that the dishy Luke has the knob for it from what I’ve witnessed at the beach earlier on.”

    
I choked on my water and smacked her arm, gasping for air. “
Lucy!
You have such a dirty mind!” We shrieked in a boisterous laughter.

     “Hey! I feel left out! What are you two beautiful babies laughing about hmmm?” Chad sauntered
over
and sat on the
rug and leaned on large striking-colored beaded cushions.

     I cleared my throat and wiped
away the
tears in my eyes. “Chad, are you
bonking
Luke Scott?”
I m
imicked
Lucy
.

     “What if I am?
He’s quite delish!
I don’t need permission to have sex as well
do I?
I’m on
vacation after all—w
hatevers babylove!”

     “Chad! We’re happy for you!” Luce and I echoed together.

     “Really??? O
.
M
.
G
.
!
You guys
—I just want to thank you for everything…I mean without you guys, I would’ve probably given up.
N
ow
with Luke, things are getting so awesome! I mean—
I think I’m in lurve!
”
He fanned
hi
s face
furiously and gush
ed
like a teenager.

     Luce and I sat next to him on the cushions and joined in the rowdy merriment.

     Luce cleared her throat and hooked a strand of hair on her ear. She looked tense all of a sudden, “since we’re all here sharing, I wanted to share something with my best girlfriends.”

     Chad gently tapped her arm
.
“
W
oman! Come on! I’m waiting, so focus!”

     “This is might be unseemly but I have to ask. Sienna, would it be alright if I go out with Troy?”

    
Hold up, did she say Troy? Troy the model?

   
I tensed,
“
Troy….
Troy
Sco
t
t?”
My eyes popped out of
their
sockets, “
Troy
from Friday night Troy?” 
Say Troy one more time then you’re going to get socked, Sienna.

     I’m a little stunned, Okay—
majorly stunned
. Oh my God, what will become of Toby?

     “Eh—yes, that’s the one. You were all there
last
Friday night
. He was crushed
to learn
that you didn’t see him that way. I want to cheer him
up
and need a bit
of a diversion myself. So—before I proceed—I
wanted to
get your permission and….say approval?” She bit her lip and looked from Chad then to me, then back again.

    
Last weekend
, we met up with Troy in Malaga. When he hinted that he wanted to date me, I nicely shut his advances down.

     Seeing Chad’s mouth still hanging ajar, I grabbed his chin and closed his mouth. “Luce—
of course you have it!
Thank you for letting me know….but
what about Toby?
Don’t you love him? I thought you love him? I don’t get it? I’m so speechless right now.
Fuck!
He’s going to go ballistic!”

    
All these images are running through my mind like a stampede.
Poor Toby
, I don’t think he could handle it.

     “What the fuck Lucy! This is so fucking fucked up!”
Chad
held his palm inches away from
Lucy’s face. “Listen—
this isn’t
about Troy. Great! I’
m happy about you and Troy
. I mean, a fine piece of ass needs to land himself a hot lover and you are
that
Luce. But what pisses me off is
about
Toby. I love that man. Both he and Blake had been a constant pillar of strength for me.
You’re his life Luce
—you can’t do this! You’re going to ruin him and I’m not going to stand back and
watch
this catastrophe happen.”

    
Holy, shit
. Fierce Chad is coming out.
H
e
does have a point. Toby will be crushed and might never recover
.

     “I understand, Chad—I do.
I love him too
—but what if this thing with his family’s a sign that it wasn’t meant to be? I don’t want to waste my youth waiting and wondering if I made a mistake or not. We win and lose in love. I just have to handle it like a mature adult and go forth.”

     I opened my mouth and closed again. Chad whimpered agonizingly next to me.

    
Wow, she’s total hardcore
. I need some of her Zen
pronto
.

     “I will support you—if it makes you happy—” I was speaking then Chad interjected. I glared at Chad for cutting me off.

     “I will too, JUST AS LONG AS YOU KEEP THIS A SECRET from Toby—for little awhile at least.
Comprende
, chica?”

     Lucy nodded sadly. She understood how delicate this is
a
nd she also knew we will protect Toby from getting hurt.

     “Oookay—since we really are discussing dirty secrets! I have one on my own
,
”
I added.

     Chad dramatically tapped his forehead. “You’re pregnant?” I shook my head. “You’re banging that hot blondie, Clive? OMG!
Hottest fucking cousins EVER!
You’re the luckiest bitch in the world, although you should watch your back with Madeline—she’s a little on the obsessive side.”

     “Definitely, negative!
Hello?
Will you let me finish here without interrupting?” I waved him off while he giggled like a ninny, daydreaming of
“
the hottest fucking cousins ever.
”
Aren’t they ever
?
I blushed. Clive is hot—I mean I love my tall dark and handsome men (
insert
Blake and Kyle) but Clive was the first blue-eyed blonde I have ever been attracted to BUT I will choose Blake without hesitation.

     “
Dear me
—those two
are undoubtedly, devilishly handsome cousins
,
”
Luce murmured.