Page 88 of Perfect Imperfections

Stop thinking about him, it’s only making you sad.

“It’s not insulting so much as,” Cam paused, scrunching up her nose in thought. “Baiting.”

“Baiting?”

Her friend nodded. “Yeah, like in fishing, when you dangle the worm out there for the trout, luring it in with pretty bait and a sharp hook, but then, after you catch it, you take a picture for bragging rights and throw it back.”

“Sooooo, you want to hook Gavin for bragging rights and throw him back?”

Cam laughed, her dark red ponytail bouncing as she threw her head back. “Oh no, Doll-face. He wants to hook me and throw me back. That’s the playboy MO. But this player is about to realize he’s not in the regular game. These are my rules, and this fish is the biting kind.”

Her head was so dizzy she didn’t even know which way was up anymore. “Okay, there were too many metaphors in that for me to follow. Do you want to sleep with Gavin or not?”

Cam shrugged. “Sure. He’s hot and funny and while he seems like a bed-hopper, I don’t think he’s cruel about it. He’s pretty straightforward in acknowledging his one-and-done policy.”

“So why not just go for it?”

“Because then it’d be over. You know I live for the antici…” Cam put her hands on her hips and did her best Tim Curry. “Pation!”

She couldn’t help but laugh. She loved her friend and had no idea why dragging out something that was essentially going to be a one-night stand would be fun, but hey, whatever floated her boat. As long as Cam was happy, Ellie could understand that much.

The rest of the day flew by because of a burst pipe in the rainforest exhibit. They had to call maintenance to come fix it, and while that was being done, they closed the aviary and moved all the birds in the affected exhibits into the back room. All the cages they used to house the animals during cleaning times were full. The large gray room was a cacophony of angry and terrified squawking, chirps, and whistles. The poor creatures were upset and frightened. She and Cam did their best to calm them, but animals didn’t understand they were being moved because their home was unsafe at the moment.

Finally, after a very long and noisy two hours, the problem was fixed, and all the birds returned to their homes. Ellie drove home from the zoo tired, stressed, and still sad. But the second she arrived home, the sight at her front door caused her heart to stop in her chest.

CHAPTER 31

Sullivan.

Leaning against her door, head down, dirty blonde hair slightly rumbled. A day’s worth of stubble on his narrow jaw, stood Sullivan Green. He looked good. Okay, he didn’t look good. He looked like he hadn’t slept well the past few nights, but he was here. To see her presumably, and that made him a sight for sore eyes.

“Hi.”

His head snapped up at her soft greeting.

“Hi, Ellie. How are you?”

She felt like she should ask him that question, but not sure of his response, she went with, “I’m good.”

“Good, good, that’s good.”

He wasn’t better. There was no smile on his face, no sparkle in his eyes. He seemed distracted and anxious. Not at all like the confident, sweet, funny Sullivan Green she knew and loved. She wished he would open up to her, share his pain so she could help him through this. It didn’t matter how long it took. He didn’t have to suffer through this alone.

Maybe that was why he was here. To lean on her. Talk things out. She hoped so.

“Do you—would you like to come in?” Gah, she was so nervous. Why was she so nervous?

“Yeah, that’d be great.”

Relief rushed out of her on a deep breath. She pulled her keys from her purse and opened her front door, motioning for him to follow her in. She turned the lock three times and then three more. Her compulsions had increased since their…it wasn’t really a fight, but she didn’t know what else to call it. Troubles?

Sullivan’s eyes followed her movement, his frown deepening at the repetition of her locking ritual. She had no idea what he was thinking right now, and she was too afraid to ask. It wasn’t his fault her anxiety was going into overdrive right now. Well, it kind of was. It was the entire situation, not Sullivan specifically. But she could handle it.

She released the door and clenched her hands into fists to stop herself from checking a third time.

She would handle it.

“Would you like a drink?” she asked as they entered her small living room.

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