The Imperfections

“Also, we really like each other,” Alyssa puts in optimistically, like this will change my sister’s opinion of our union.

Looking at me knowingly, my sister says, “Oh, well, if you like each other.”

Shaking my head, I tell Bri, “I walked you down the aisle when you married that trash heap outside, didn’t I? Least you could do is offer your future sister-in-law a congratulations.”

“My husband is not a trash heap,” she informs me.

“You’re right, that’s unkind to trash heaps.”

“Anyway,” Alyssa cuts in, holding out her hand to show Bri. “We went ring shopping the other day. Your brother did really well.”

“Wow,” Bri says, grabbing Alyssa’s hand and inspecting the diamond. “That’s gorgeous—and not small. Damn, Brant.”

“Isn’t it beautiful?” Alyssa murmurs, smiling at the sparkly stone on her hand.

Shaking her head, Bri tells Alyssa, “When Theo and I got married, we were in the middle of buying this house so we had poured every dollar we could into the down payment. We were dead broke.” Holding up her own ring finger, she says, “I don’t have a big rock like yours, but I like my little ¼ carat just as much.”

“I think it’s beautiful. I love the halo style,” Alyssa says, kindly.

“It helps make the ring look more impressive, doesn’t it?”

“Definitely. He chose well—or you. Whoever picked it out.”

Bri smiles faintly. “I actually picked it out myself. I always imagined my husband would be the one to pick out my engagement ring in a style I’d like and I’d be legitimately surprised when he popped the question, but it never seems to go that way, does it?”

“Not when you get knocked up first, apparently,” Alyssa agrees.

Feeling the need to defend myself, I tell them, “It’s an expensive purchase, and I wanted to make sure I spent the money on something she’d like. I’m no good at picking out jewelry. Did you want me to spend all that money on something you would’ve been embarrassed to wear?”

With a transparently placating smile, Alyssa comes over to stand in front of me. She wraps her arms around my neck, pulling herself up nearer to my height, and gives me a little kiss. “Ring shopping with you was perfect. I wouldn’t have wanted to do it any other way.”

I tighten my arms around her waist and tug her a little closer, leaning in and stealing a longer kiss. If everyone’s gonna irritate me all damn day, I need some more of Alyssa’s affection to give me enough of a charge to get through it.

As I’m kissing her, though, the sliding door opens again and the last voice I want to hear while I’m kissing Alyssa pierces my little pocket of peace.

Understandably confused, Theo asks, “What the hell’s going on in here?”

Alyssa breaks away from my mouth, and even though if I thought it through logically I’d understand why it’s awkward for her to get caught kissing me, it’s my primal instincts that kick in first. Rather than letting her move away, my arms tighten around her waist, trapping her against me as I watch her face to see how she’s reacting.

Like a deer caught in headlights. “Let go,” she whispers.

I shake my head, not saying a word.

She searches my face, mildly panicked, but she must be more concerned with the threat I present than the threat he presents, because she doesn’t force the issue. Right now, no one but her can feel how I’m reacting. I watch her try to manage the impression we’re making. Instead of fighting her way out of my hold like it appears she’d like to, she settles her hands on my shoulders and brushes away some invisible lint, allowing me a moment to get my bearings.

It feels longer to me, but it’s probably only a few seconds that pass. Finally, I unlock my arms and let Alyssa move out of my embrace. She does, but she doesn’t go far, remaining beside me and reaching down with her right hand to take mine.

We’re both looking directly at Theo now. His confusion has morphed into something else. He looks almost offended.

“Uh, honey,” Bri says, taking the reins since me and Alyssa are just standing here, not saying a word. “So, I haven’t gotten all the details yet, but apparently Brant and Alyssa have been seeing each other. That’s why she hasn’t been calling me back.”

“Sorry,” Alyssa murmurs, sounding like a chastised schoolgirl again.

“Oh, water under the bridge. It doesn’t matter,” Bri insists, waving it off. Looking back at Theo, she explains, “They’re—um—Alyssa’s pregnant.”

Theo stares, his blue eyes wide and locked on Alyssa. “Pregnant?”

Alyssa leans closer to me, her discomfort clearly growing.

“Yep,” I answer so no one else has to. “We’re engaged, too.”

“Engaged,” Theo echoes, his disbelief even thicker. Harsh laughter escapes him, a smile stealing across his stupid, smug face. “Are you fucking with me?”