Page 15 of Imperfection is Beauty

There he was.

Sitting with his back to the room, a black ball cap atop his head, a tight-fitted dark green tee, and faded jeans on his muscular thighs. And yes, his brown cowboy boots that I had remembered from that fateful day.

He was with someone I had learned was his best friend, his woman, her son Crew, and a few guys from the football team.

I hadn’t realized I had been staring, not until someone had scooted a chair closer to me, and then I heard, “Hey.”

I looked over at who had said that, and smiled, “Hey,”

The girl had a cool-looking blonde bob with hints of violet underneath. High cheekbones, amber eyes, and a nose reminded me of theWhoinWhoville. It was too cute.

“So, I could use a friend here. And anyone that can put that bitch face, Danielle, in her place is alright with me.”

I sat there for a moment, trying to figure out what she meant, and then it clicked, “You were in the group exercise.”

She laughed, “Yes, I am. I’m Betty. Yes, I know, it’s such an old name. But my mom fell in love with the moviePearl Harbor. And she loved Betty’s character so much that she named me after her.”

I giggled, “Yeah? Does she try to set you up with everyone who’s named Red?”

She giggled then nodded, “She totally does, thankfully, I’ve only met one person.”

“Does she expect you to continue the love story and not die?” I asked her as I took a sip of my coffee.

She snorted, “See, I knew I had a feeling about you and yes, she really does.”

“Oh, and by the way, I’m Scarlett,” I told her. “Okay, to help the love story, because I am a sucker for stuff like that, I’ll keep an ear out for anyone named Red.”

“Well, thank you. But please, don’t let him have red hair. No offense to you, but my skin is already pasty enough. I don’t want to cause our children to burn the moment they step out of the front door.”

I giggled and then looked back over at the table when I heard that deep chuckle that came from Marcus.

Man, that did something to me.

And his name? Tell me that isn’t sexy.

At the sound of Betty’s voice, I turned my head back to her, “So, I hope the feeling I had about you is accurate. Do you go to parties here?”

I smiled then shook my head, “Honestly, I attempted one of the parties here. The moment I stepped through the threshold, I turned around and headed back home. The parties here are nothing but orgies. Well, the parties that my dad’s club throws are like that, but not until later in the night. Now before that, it really is a party.”

She took a sip of her own coffee and asked, “Your dad's club?”

I nodded, “Yeah, my dad is the road captain for a motorcycle club.”

She winced, “Sorry, but bikers, yeah, no. Give me a silent cage fighter, I’m all in.”

I snickered then asked, “Are you saying that because they are all smelly, hairy, and gross?”

She nodded, then visibly shivered, “Yeah. Just… no.”

I grinned then, normally, I wouldn’t do this, but something about her told me she wasn’t going to try to use me to get close to the guys.

Therefore, I tagged my phone and then went to my pictures and smiled.

I had a rare photo that was taken at my graduation party. All the brothers had circled me and glared, but they were still there, looking handsome as ever.

Then I showed her the picture, “They aren’t all hairy, smelly, and gross.”

She took the phone from my hand and looked at it and then an appreciative whistle came out of her mouth.

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