Chasing Imperfection (Chasing Series 2) (6 page)

     I just saw you—you can’t surely leave?
!
I yelled in my head.

     “I have to go to Rome for a few hours. I’ve been summoned by my uncle. I’ll be back when I can.”  That sounds very important. I remembered him speak affectionately about his uncle—but
his
name escapes me.

     “Oh, right. Um have a safe flight then—
wait—
do you want to go get some coffee before you leave? I haven’t had one yet—”

    
I was going to just say goodbye—but my heart won out. I wanted to catch up and see how he’s been. He l
ooked
so gorgeous.
He s
till
is
the
most
beau
tiful man I’ve ever laid my eyes on
,
though
there’s a hint of darkness shroud
ing
him
now that wasn’t present before. He seem
hardened—cold and severely detached from me.
Gone was the man who gave me those knee-buckling god-like smiles and earth shattering kisses.

      “No. I’m busy. I have to go.” His rejection was the nail
in
the coffin. I should’ve expected this. In the back recess of my mind,
I did
—but when it finally happens in my reality,
a
fresh set of pain racked through my body. I mentally prepared myself for this—but this ache—this
rotten
,
putrid feeling that’s
gripping me
is
crushing and unbearable.

     I wiped m
y eyes with the back of my hand
when tears threatened to fall.

     I can’t break
down and think of myself, Chad
needs me. It’s Chad that I should focus my energy on, not my irrevocably broken relationship with Blake.

     I made sure my thoughts of Blake were shoved in the back of my mind and my tear ducts were
dry before entering Chad’s room and bravely face
d
Luce and Toby.

     “Hello! How’s Chad doing today?” I greeted the pretty couple.

    
Luce jumped out of her chair and hugged me tightly. “Blake was just here, did you manage to see him on the way out?”

     “Yeah—it was awkward to say the least.” I gave Luce and Toby a sad smile.

    
“Don’t worry—you two will come around. You guys were close friends before. It’s just
,
you know—things are still new and still need getting used to,” she smiled
encouragingly
at me.

    
I gave her a peck on the cheek and murmured
“
thank you
”
and sat next to Chad’s bed. He still looked a little lifeless but his lips are gaining a little color. That’s a good sign right? He’ll bounce b
ack into full health. I just kno
w it.

     The three of us chatted around Chad’s bed. Luce
and I still took both sides next to
Chad while Toby sat on the foot of the bed. He
told
me that he’s giving up his flat because the job in Marbella might take up to a year to finish and there’s no need to keep a place here when he doesn’t obviously need it. Some of his things will be moved to Lucy’s room and other furniture
brought
to our apartment. I didn’t mind it, whatever is easier for him. We certainly have the room for it. So, I guess Blake and Toby are going to be housema
tes then. That certainly sucks…for me.

     “How is Blake? I mean—I saw him earlier—he seemed angry still. Is he doing okay?” Heck, I’m fishing for information I knew that but I somehow wanted to know if he’s okay after the break-up. I knew it’s been two months since it happened, but I was curious.

     “Blake has a very demanding and punishing schedule. I don’t know how he does it—but he does and he does it superbly. But during night—he’s been quite, I don’t know how to put it. I mean—he’s been quite—maybe overtly busy.” I tried to open my mouth to respond but I couldn’t form the words to.
Overtly busy?

     Lucy snorted. “Overtly busy, really my love? That’s the understatement of the year. Try man whore.”
Toby glared at her.

    
She held up her hand, “I know
you’re
besties with him—I love him too. We all know Blake used to go through women quite thoroughly but at least then he tried to get to know the women. This time, he doesn’t even nit-pick—he just shags them. As long as the woman is hot and good-looking that is.” She shrugged as I stared wide-eyed at them.

   
Hello???
How come
none
of them informed me?

    The thought of Blake with
different women
on a
daily
basis
made me run to the bathroom and puke. Fuck that was a lot of information to take in.

   
What was I really expecting, him pining
away
for me?
Maybe
. I just didn’t expect him to move on like we—
us
—didn’t matter much. Why would he, Sienna? You never once told him that y
ou loved him
and
you turned
down his proposal of marriage. The man has the right to move on and forget you.

     I heard a soft knock on the door. “Sienna, can I help you at all?” Toby’s soft sophisticated voice asked through the door. “No, I just need a minute. I’ll be out soon,” I called back.

     I washed my face and
rinsed
my mouth with water. I straightened up my loose
ned
bun before I came out of the bathroom. They both looked sorry. Sigh, it’s not their fault I’m a mess. “Sorry, I was shocked that’s all. I needed a moment.”

     Toby gathered me in his arms and hugged me tight. “You broke the man’s heart
,
love. This is the only way he knows how to cure himself. You shouldn’t take it personally. But he did love you—I just wish that he
took
care of the Clayworth’s before taking things further with you.
He was shattered too
,
babe.
”

     “I know,” I murmured sadly before returning to my chair next to Chad. “He
hates
me, doesn’t he?”

     “He’ll come around. I know he will. I just don’t know how long that’ll take him.” I nodded at Toby not wanting to talk about it anymore.

     We changed the subject
and spoke
about Chad
.
Lucy animatedly rehashed stories about him that were funny and
so
very
Chad, when Toby’s phone rang and he went to the far side corner of the room and spoke in
a
hushed tone. I laughed sadly with Lucy’s story and we both started to tear again
when we looked
at Chad’s face.
I miss
you
, my dear beautiful friend, I whispered in his ear.

     Toby was bu
s
y with his laptop all afternoon and taking calls every half an hour or so. At five, they decided to leave and asked me if I wanted to join them for dinner with Blake, I graciously declined
and used work as an excuse
.
A
fter seeing him today and learning of his sexcapades
, I honestly can only take him in small doses.

     I waited for Kyle to pick me up so we
could
head out to work together. I love working with him. I love how diverse and exhilarating the music business is. Tonight, I have no clue where we’re heading. I haven’t
paid
much attention
since Chad got admitted to
the hospital. I have to go ba
ck to my flat and change
before heading out to wherever we are working tonight.

    
When Kyle walked in thirty minutes after Toby and Lucy left, I asked if we could stop by at my flat.
On our way to my apartment in Covent Garden, my thoughts dwelled on Blake
,
tuning Kyle out.

     Once in the apartment, I headed straight to the shower leaving Kyle in my room. I showered and thoroughly scrubbed
my body
, shaved my legs and put a five minute sugar face mask
on. Scrubbed clean and primed, I applied
rose scented cream all over my body and came out
of the bat
hroom with my pale green
silk robe on.

     “Where are we going tonight? How much time do I have to get ready?”
I shot
questions
at him
while I rummaged through my closet.
He was on my bed staring at the ceiling. He was wearing all black and quite rugged. That haircut really does suit him.

    
“We’re a
ctually going to see TCC
. They’re playing at
the Electric Ballroom tonight…just thought we should support them you know.” He was now on his side propped with his elbow, watching me go through my closet. “
W
ear a skirt—but not too short. You never fail to look delicious with a skirt on.” I glared at him. “Oh, shut up. Keep your fantasies at bay
,
y
ou horndog!” he
laughed
.

     “Gotcha!” I exclaimed as I took the
clothes
with me to the bathroom.

     “Is that leather pants I see?
Baby, that’s hella hot. I can’t wait
!” he called out to me. I
shut the door laughing. He’s hopeless!

  
 
I slid
on my itsy bitsy red
lace thong followed by fitted black leather pants
. I
tried to put on the red corset
covered
with black lace, but failed miserably. Holding the corset tightly on my chest I barged out the door seeking for Kyle’s assistance.

     “Hey, could you help me out here really quick!”
his hazel eyes bulged out from its sockets.

    
Great
, here we go again. I started to tap my foot patiently waiting for him to get over it.

     “Baby
, do you know
if
you
hold that thing closer
, it would make your boobs pop-
out right?” I rolled my eyes.
He got up from the bed and I turned on my back so he can start working on the
hook and eye. He did it slowly
—
quite deliberately.

   
“Kyle—when di
d you decided to start moving like a snail?”
I
impatiently
asked
him
.

     “Since your back is exposed to me. You’re killing me here baby. You know how much I love
your back. Fuck! This shit blows
.”

     I smiled, knowing how distracted he’ll be. “Maybe you should get laid you know…Have you been with anyone after Brooke?”

     “Yes…
you
. That night in Santa Monica was the last time I got laid.” Kyle whispered.
No
freaking
way
. That can’t be, I mean Kyle is pretty hot. The bad boy with the buzz-cut hair
,
now
with tattoos
and those beautiful hazel eyes which I’
m sure melts women—it used to turn me into a puddle of goo—why choose to be
celibate?

     
Duh
, you know why.

     “You’re joking right? That’s crazy long ago. Having sexual problems young man?”
Trying
to make light of the situation because I’m totally freaked out—for a man to do something like that—is
very
serious. Guys just don’t give up sex for no reason.

     “Figured that I did so much damage with you and I don’t want to ruin any chances anymore. I want you back. I d
on’t care much about sex with
other women. I just
want
you and I
want
the next time
to be
with
you
.” Finishing the last hook and eye, he softly caressed my shoulder with the back of his finger.

 
   “That’s pretty loaded Kyle…
”

     “Don’t worry…
.no need to rush
. I just love being with you
,
” he whispered softly in my ear.

     “I saw
him
today
, you know
and he hates me.”
Him
as in Blake Knightly.