Page 17 of Imperfections Seduced
“Yes. I was thinking.”
“About what?”
“How good it is to see you guys and catch up on all the things going on in our lives.” Which is not a lie. Then I hear it. A sweet, southern voice coming toward us.
“Hi, y’all!”
Oh no. I groan inwardly and look at Ava—at least I think it’s Ava. I absolutely know the guy standing next to her, I can’t ignore his presence. I’m so angry with him for everything, not just the argument in the car. I’m going to try to have a pleasant evening and not to create a scene. I can do that as long as he’s on his best behavior.
I push my chair back, stand, and kiss Ava on the cheek. Ava was always gorgeous, but wow, now she’s a total knockout. With a shocked expression I run my hand over her hair.
“What did you do to yourself?”
“You don’t like it?” she says with a frown.
“Are you kidding? I love it.”
“For the first time today since I colored my hair I wasn’t sure if it was a good idea. Other people might be nice and say it looks good, even if it doesn’t, but a true friend like you would tell me the truth. Besides, I spent way too much money and time to get this shade. It’s going to be a while before I can change it back.”
“Men are going to be lined up around the block to get your number.”
“If there is a line, I only want one guy in it.”
She turns around, looks down the table at Chris giving him a beaming smile. She walks around to Vanessa and Jay and greets them with a hug and a kiss. She sits in the chair at the end of the table between Chris and Kate. Nick greets everyone at the table and since no one but I knew Ava was coming, he asks for an extra chair. He actually has the nerve to tell them to put his chair between me and Kate, and I have to stop myself from hissing at him.
The music was a good mix of rock—not the hardcore stuff—and Neo soul. The guys in the band were cute, too— three white guys and two black. They looked like they might be in their mid-to-late twenties, and definitely not like starving artists struggling to make their way. Their clothing was very high end, and even their jeans were designer labels. Maybe this was a thing they did on the side for fun. Then I remember Chris did say they owned this place. Business must be good for them.
I’m relaxed, on my third glass of wine, enjoying the music, the vibes in the club and the view of the hot guys in the band. I’m so wrapped up in the band and the music I manage to effectively ignore the other hot guy sitting next to me who I want to haul off and slap for being an absolute ass.
“Cat, what a lovely pendant you’re wearing,” Vanessa says.
I’m holding the wine glass in my right hand and my left hand flutters over my pendant.
“Thank you.”
“I’ve never seen you wear it before. It’s so unique. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it. The gems are brilliant. It’s almost as if they’re staring at you.”
Vanessa should know—she specializes in gems, helping run her family’s jewelry boutique. They cater to some of the wealthiest people in and around New York.Everyone turns to look at my pendant, and Nick looks directly at me. I feel the heat rise slowly up my cheeks, and I’m not sure if it’s the wine or the fact that while everyone else is looking at my pendant, Nick’s looking at me.
“Yes, it’s exactly like that,” I say.
I smile, and Jay is the first to ask the question I knew was coming next.
“It’s a show stopper, all right—where did you get it?”
“It was a gift on my sixteenth birthday.”
Chris frowns. “I don’t remember seeing you wear it before. Mom and Dad bought you that for your sixteenth birthday? Mom does have an eye for fine jewelry.”
Kate agrees with a nod. “Yes, she does. She likes her jewelry to be one of a kind, and it’s often expensive. If only Dad could stop her from adding to her collection of ‘trinkets’ as he likes to call them.”
We all laugh because my dad has tried many times to stop her. “That’s why Vanessa is her dream daughter-in-law.” I take a sip of my wine and clear my throat. “Mom and Dad didn’t buy me this.” That’s when my so-called friend with the strawberry blond hair chimes in.
“Well, who was it?”
She knows damn well who bought it! She’s the first person I called when he gave it to me. Vanessa leans over and looks at it again.
“May I?”
