Imperfectly Real (A Series of Imperfections) (9 page)

Rob skipped ahead of us as soon as he caught sight of that tacky little leprechaun dangling off the ‘O’ of the sign at O’Malley’s. He’d been giddy from the moment Shane had informed him of the day trip plan. Two consecutive days of celebration was right up his alley. Although Rob knew nothing of what was about to take place his excitement was infectious. He was always high on life, and you couldn’t help but join him.

For obvious reasons, Elizabeth didn’t quite get it. “What’s the deal with this place?” she whispered to me, curious as to what all the excitement was about. To an outsider it was just a bar—and a skuzzy one at that. Nothing special. But to us, it was home. A place that linked all of our most precious, and special, memories.

“It’s hard to explain, but this …”—I opened the door and motioned for her to go inside— “… this is our place.” We entered and started walking to our ‘new’ booth. Emma had insisted we still come here even after we caught ‘Mr. Wonderful’ in the act, but she had demanded that we claim a new booth. She refused to sit somewhere that some asshole had disregarded her—even if it had all been for the best. Our new spot was toward the front of the bar, and I liked it because it made it easier for us to make trips for beers.

We slid into our seats and Elizabeth scrunched her face up with disgust. “It stinks in here.”

“Ah, don’t worry about that. That’s just the smell of dreams come true. You get used to it,” Shane laughed.

Rob, carrying a tray with pints of Guinness, joined us once we settled into our seats. “Nom nom nom. I just don’t get to drink this shit often enough,” he muttered as he proceeded to chug his pint. Once finished, he slammed the glass down onto the table and let out a loud belch.

“You’re a pig,” Emma murmured as she grabbed her glass.

“What
is
that stuff? It looks like chocolate milk.” Elizabeth questioned, her nose still scrunched up. We all stared at her again, completely in awe of her naivety.

“You really have lived a sheltered life, haven’t you?” Rob muttered, shaking his head in shock and looking towards Emma. “How is it possible that the two of you are sisters?”

Elizabeth looked on in disgust while Emma proceeded to chug down her pint of Guinness. She finished and slammed her glass on the tabletop. Emma laughed. “I ask myself the same question every day.”

Rob entertained us for a while with his recounts of his latest conquest, who happened to be the daughter of one of the partners at his firm. We all threw our two cents in, knowing that this would surely not end well but, despite our concern, we laughed anyway. That man was a master with words, and I for one never got tired of listening to him tell a story.

“She
is
18, right?” Shane asked in between giggles.

“Of course she is … 21 in fact. I ID’ed her,” Rob answered proudly. I shook my head. I should be shocked to learn that my friend actually cards his dates, but I wasn’t. It was typical Rob. Nothing could shock me when it came to that guy.

“Did you ever think that she could have given you a fake?” I asked.

His face went white as a sheet. “Oh shit, I never thought of that.”

We started laughing again, and he just shrugged his shoulders in response before grabbing another pint from the table.

Space was hard to come by and the five of us had squashed into the booth. It was a good thing Elizabeth was so tiny, or I didn’t think we would have fit. Rob had done everything to ensure that he snuck in next to her, but that didn’t stop us from stealing sideways glances every chance we got.

Shane eventually excused himself to go grab another round and, knowing what was about to take place, I was anxious to see how it would all unfold. If I knew Emma like I thought I did, she was going to be shocked and probably a little miffed. Returning moments later with a tray full of five golden pints garnished with oranges, he squeezed back into the booth next to Emma. He shared a smile with me and I chuckled. Emma was going to be pissed. Not only was he about to go back on his word, but he had violated an age-old rule. Just then, as if on cue, he set the platter on the table and she huffed in annoyance.

“Since when do we drink Blue Moon at O’Malley’s?” she questioned, a slight edge to her voice. She was pissed already. We only ever drank Guinness at O’Malley’s.

Shane started handing out the glasses, and I saw a glimmer on the bottom of the one he handed over to Emma. “Since now,” he said without missing a beat. “A toast …”

We all smiled and lifted our glasses to the middle of the table, waiting for Shane to continue. “I don’t know what I did to deserve all this.” He paused and directed his gaze at Emma. “We’ve been on a hell of a journey together, watching each other grow up as we went, and I will be forever grateful that you decided to walk into my room that night.” Emma’s face flushed as the memories of that moment invaded her thoughts. “You’ve given me more than I ever thought I wanted. I love you, Em.”

“Cheers!” Rob called as he quickly clanked his pint with ours before lifting it to his mouth.

“Cheers,” we all chimed and clinked. Instead of downing my beer I watched intently as Emma lifted her glass. She took a tentative sip and then she finally saw it. “What the fuck?” she questioned, lifting her glass closer to her eyes for further inspection. Her brow furrowed as she looked into the glass. Suddenly the realization hit and her face softened. “Holy shit …”

Shane grabbed her hand and stood her up from the booth in front of him. He dropped to his knees on that scummy floor and looked up to her with nothing but love and adoration in his eyes. “Emma Sloan, I think I’ve loved you from the moment I met you. You’ve been my best friend, my girlfriend, and the best mother to our son. Will you make me the happiest man alive and be my wife?”

“Shane, we talked about this …” Emma spoke softly, looking somewhat embarrassed.

“I don’t care what you said. We’re going to have a wedding. You’re going to be my wife and become a Strout. Now please don’t make me beg, the guys will never let me live it down.” The booth filled with tension. Honestly, it could’ve gone either way.

Emma grabbed her beer and proceeded to chug until the ring was the only thing left. It sparkled at the bottom of the glass, despite the lack of light in the bar. Shane had done good—the thing was huge and gorgeous. I guess. She smiled as she grabbed Shane’s hand and dumped it out onto his palm. “You’re such a girl,” she teased before leaning down to kiss him. “I suppose, if it will make you happy.”

Shane immediately stood and took her into his arms. I looked away, not wanting to intrude on their intimate moment. My eyes fell on Elizabeth, she was gazing at them with longing in her eyes. I wondered if her engagement had been as emotional … if she had been happy when Mason popped the question. Part of me thought that maybe she hadn’t. She turned to me and smiled through the apparent sadness on her face. I directed my attention back to the happy couple just in time to see Shane slip the ring on Emma’s finger. She turned to Elizabeth and smiled. “Mom is going to make this so difficult isn’t she?”

I remembered hearing Emma bitch about their mother’s behavior when Elizabeth had been planning her wedding. But even I knew that Mrs. Sloan would be a pain in Em’s ass over this.

“You know how she loves to plan parties.” Elizabeth forced a smile, offering Emma hope that she could deal with Mrs. Sloan. I wondered if she and Shane would just end up eloping in order to avoid the shit-show.

“Any excuse to show off,” Emma added as she sighed. She knew that she was agreeing to a torturous few months of planning—Mrs. Sloan would surely make this process a living hell for her.

“I love you so much for this,” Shane spoke as he kissed her cheek one final time.

Seeing my moment, I stood and congratulated the happy couple before excusing myself to the restroom, leaving the others to celebrate alone. I knew that this was going to make things all the more interesting now. I was going to be forced to see Elizabeth more than I’d been expecting, and I was happy about it.

We got back to the condo just in time to relieve the babysitter of bedtime duties. It was a hustle of activity as the girls hurried around trying to get the kids ready. Dinner was served, baths were run, kids screamed—It was chaos. Rob left to go meet up with the partner’s daughter, leaving me to my own devices with no real opportunity to escape.

Once the kids were asleep, the four of us sat in the living room mindlessly watching T.V. Shane and Emma were curled up together on the futon. She was absently twirling the new ring on her finger as Shane dozed off. I kept looking at Elizabeth, desperately wanting to be alone with her. She was leaving in the morning and I wanted to steal a few more moments with her before then.

“Sheesh, I’m exhausted,” Shane spoke, standing and scrubbing his face. “I’ve got an early day in court tomorrow so I should head to bed. I’ll be gone by the time you leave in the morning, Liz.” He paused and she stood to give him a warm embrace. “It was good to spend some time with you and Emily. I’m glad you were here this weekend. You’re welcome anytime.”

Elizabeth smiled. “Thanks for showing me a good time.”

“No problem.” Shane turned to Emma who was still perched on the futon. “You coming, Em?”

She stood and stretched. “Right behind you.” She looked over at her sister sitting in the chair. “You all set, Liz?”

“Yeah. I’ll see you in the morning, right?” she asked.

Emma stood and stretched her arms over her head. “What time are you planning on heading to the airport?”

“Not until ten o’clock. I’m hooking up with Mason at the airport for the flight home, and his flight from Chicago doesn’t get in until eleven o’clock.”

For some reason, hearing her talk about her husband stirred emotions in me that I hadn’t been prepared for. I didn’t understand why I felt jealous—especially since I had no right to.

“Alright,” Emma yawned, “I’ll be able to see you off in the morning before I head into work.”

My heart began pounding as soon as Emma made her way up the stairs. The idea of being alone with Elizabeth excited me. I wanted to be near her and have her talk to me again. I wanted to understand her, and know what made her tick. Once I heard Emma’s door close, I turned my attention toward her and grinned devilishly

“Well, that was an eventful evening,” I spoke as I looked at her longingly.

She scoffed in response. “I’m surprised Emma even said yes knowing what a huge production Mom will make of this. I overheard Emma on the phone with her once we got back, and Mom is already planning things out.” She rolled her eyes and I wondered if their mother agitated her as well. “Mark my words, Emma will have no control over this wedding.” She stood and moved from the chair to a spot on the floor next to my beanbag. I leaned forward just to be closer to her. Her scent filled my nose and my heart skipped a beat.

My mind was reeling faster than I could process. I hated that I was feeling so out of control, but at the same time I just didn’t give a shit. “So you leave tomorrow …” I ventured, hoping to get her to give me a little more information on what ‘this’ was. I just wasn’t sure where our relationship—if you could even call it that—was going.

Without hesitation she leaned forward to meet my lips. My hands found their way to the sides of her face and I pulled her closer, not wanting the moment to end.

After a few breathless moments, she pulled back from me and bit her lip nervously. “I know I can’t offer you anything, Tyler, but I can tell you that you’re bringing me to life again. I’m working on myself right now, getting back to who I am. Can you be patient with me?”

Without thinking I nodded. I’d do whatever she wanted me to. She smiled before her lips gently pressed to mine. I felt her join me on the beanbag and a heavy breath escaped from between my lips. She giggled, obviously reveling in the fact that she had control over me. “But at least with Emma and Shane getting married we’ll get to see each other more than I was planning on.”

I smiled hearing her voice the same thought I’d had earlier in the day. It was crazy, but I already wanted to spend every minute with her—marriage and morals be damned.

“So are you going to tell me why you’re here?” I ventured once we took a break from our hormone-induced make out session. She leaned back and settled comfortably into my arms, her legs draped over my lap.

Frowning, she sighed and I hoped that she would give me something … anything. I needed to know what was going through her head. I wanted to help her, but in order to do that she needed to let me in. Uncomfortable silence filled the room and I regretted pressing her for information.

“I just hate my life,” she finally muttered.

I pulled her closer, knowing that she would need support and encouragement to continue.

“It’s all a façade, Tyler. Nothing but a big joke. I’m living the life my mother wanted for me, the one she handpicked for me. I never stood a chance. I never even knew what I wanted for myself. I mean, I was married by 22, I hadn’t even begun to live a life. I didn’t even finish college, Tyler. Once Mason proposed, Mom didn’t see the need for me to finish. She convinced me to drop out, knowing that he would make enough money to support me.”

“So why did you?” I asked. “Why marry him if it wasn’t what you wanted?”

“I didn’t know … I still don’t. I do know that I care about Mason. He’s a wonderful man and an even better father. But I know I don’t love him, I never did, but Mom loved him and I wanted to make her happy. We all knew Emma wasn’t going to.”

I shook my head. Mrs. Sloan had really done a number on her girls. I hoped that someday somebody would set her straight.

“I thought having a baby would bring us closer together but it didn’t, if anything it just created more distance between us. And now with Emily in the picture …” Her breath hitched as her eyes filled with emotion. “I just … I can’t … I don’t know what to do, Tyler.” She threw her head into her hands as a trouble sob escaped from her mouth.

I got it. Truly I did. Elizabeth hadn’t been able to stand up to her mother and she had made a mistake. But what was with the tangled web? “So why me?” I asked before I lost the nerve.