Twisted Perfection

by Glines, Abbi

  Smiling, I reached my hand out toward him. “Hello, I’m Della Sloane.”

  A crooked grin touched Woods perfect face and he slipped his hand into mine. “Woods Kerrington. It’s nice to meet you Della.”

  His warm touch caused me to shiver and I pulled my hand away and stood up. “I’m going to get a drink. Save me a dance tonight.”

  He nodded. “Without a doubt.”

  Bethy met me at the bar. I had planned to take a deep calming breath after getting far enough from Woods to think this through. But instead I managed to smile at her like nothing was wrong.

  “Can I ask what the handshake was about?” Bethy said, sitting down on the stool beside me and ordering two lemon drop shots.

  “We’re starting over. This time I know he’s engaged and we’re going to be friends.”

  Bethy nodded but I could see the disbelief in her eyes.

  “Really, we are. Nothing more,” I assured her.

  The bartender slid both of the pale yellow drinks our way.

  “I believe that you believe that. But Woods doesn’t want Angelina. So you see if I’m skeptical about him keeping it friendly between the two of you, I have reason.”

  Even Bethy knew he didn’t want to marry Angelina. I didn’t understand this. Would it be so bad not to connect his name with hers?

  “It just seems like he’s sacrificing his happiness for money and gain. I don’t think that will end well.”

  Bethy threw back her shot and then wiped a drop off her bottom lip with the pad of her thumb. “It will be a disaster. He’ll be miserable. But he thinks this is what he wants out of life. No one can convince him otherwise. In their world of money and power this is what they do. It’s why Tripp took off running. He didn’t want to play that game.”

  Tripp? He’d had that kind of ultimatum too? But he’d left. He’d run. He hadn’t sacrificed his happiness. He was living. There was no cage holding him in. Cages were suffocating. I hated the idea of Woods living in one.

  “I’m just passing through. While I’m here I think we can be friends. I like him. I want to get to know him. When I have his memory to pull out one day and think about I don’t want it to be just the sex. I want to know the man. Is that wrong?”

  Bethy picked up my lemon drop and handed it to me. “No. It’s not. Now, drink up. I need someone to get the karaoke going and- tag you’re it.”

  I shook my head. “Oh, no. Not me.”

  Bethy nodded. “Yes, you. I’ve heard about your amazing vocal skills. It’s time I heard them. Come on, do it for me. Please.”

  I took the shot glass and quickly downed the tangy drink.

  Woods

  Grant took Della’s seat when she walked away.

  “I take it that means you two made amends,” Grant said as he put his beer down on the table.

  “We’re friends,” I replied. Not real sure how that was going to work but I was going to make sure it did.

  “Friends,” Grant replied and nodded his head as if he agreed. The look on his face though was amused though. “Good luck with that.”

  His comment pissed me off, but he was right. I needed all the luck I could get. Keeping a straight head around her was going to be hard.

  “Thanks.”

  Grant chuckled. “Looks like you think that’s as impossible as I do.”

  I started to respond when Bethy walked up on the stage. “It’s time for some karaoke. Now that you’ve all had some free liquor you can sing for your drinks. Don’t worry I won’t make you come up here, yet. You have an entire song to drink enough until coming up here sounds like a good idea. Della has agreed to sing first because she doesn’t have to be drunk to sound badass.”

  I shifted my eyes to Della who was looking up at Bethy like she wanted to crawl under a table. I wanted to go save her from this but I sure as hell wasn’t about to go sing. I’d never live it down.

  “I got this,” Grant said and jumped up. I watched him saunter over to Della and say something that made her beam up at him. Stupid fucker. What was he doing?

  Della slid her hand into his and they walked up to the stage together. He was gonna sing with her. He hadn’t sung in front of a crowd since high school.

  Della looked relieved not to be up there alone.

  The lyrics to “Picture” by Sheryl Crow and Kid Rock came up on the screen. He was going with a Kid song. Not surprising; he always liked singing Kid Rock songs.

  The familiar sound began pouring through the speakers. Grant’s voice joined it and I let myself watch Della. She was impressed with his singing. Most people were. Until they heard Rush Finlay sing. Rush and Grant were step-brothers once for a few short years. But it had been enough to bond them. I never understood why Rush didn’t sing anymore because it had drawn the girls for miles when he was younger. Maybe it was the fact he didn’t want to be his father. He didn’t want to be compared to him. Rush’s father was the famous drummer from Slack Demon.

  Grant hadn’t minded using his vocal skills to attract the girls though.

  Della began her part of the song and the room went quiet. She was amazing. I’d been completely floored when she’d opened her mouth to sing at the Delamar Ball. This was one of the things I wanted to know more about. She had to have been singing for a long time.

  “I’m just throwing this out there. I’m making a move on her. Your ass is engaged. So, you can get all pissed and shit but I’m still making a move. She’s hot and completely worth the ass kicking.” Thad informed me. I glared at him as he sat down across from me and shrugged before looking back up at the stage.

  She was too smart to get mixed up with Thad. He wasn’t her type.

  “If she doesn’t end up in Grant’s bed tonight. He’s looking like he’s ready to move in on her.”

  I watched Grant as they finished the song and he pulled her into a hug. My hands clenched tightly into fists. What was he doing?

  “Bud, you look like you need reminding you got your stupid ass engaged,” Thad said standing back up.

  Della’s hands were resting on Grant’s arms just a little too comfortably and long. Della’s gaze left Grant’s face and her eyes found me. Immediately her hands fell away and she stepped away from Grant after flashing him one more smile. Then she turned and left the stage.

  I watched her as she made her way through the crowd. She was headed for the back hallway that led to the restrooms. I didn’t think about it too hard. I just went with it. Standing up, I followed her.

  She had already disappeared into the restroom when I got back there so I waited. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do. We’d just agreed to become friends so pushing her back into that small one stall bathroom and taking her up against the wall again wasn’t a good idea. I was positive she wouldn’t be so willing anymore. Which burned like acid down my throat. I’d had her. I could have had more.

  Staring at the door, I decided this was a bad move. Another mistake. I shouldn’t be back here. I wanted to get to know Della and this wasn’t the way to do it. She’d push me away if I even attempted anything.

  I stalked back down the hallway away from the temptation.

  “Woods?” Della’s voice stopped me. I couldn’t go back there. I looked back at her over my shoulder.

  “Hey. You did great up there. Sheryl Crow is hard to sing.”

  She blushed. “Thank you. It was fun. I’d been nervous when Bethy had asked me to but I’m glad I did.”

  “I’m glad you did too.”

  She walked toward me. “How about that dance now?”

  I wanted to dance with her. I wanted that memory. That experience. I held out my hand to her and she placed hers in mine. I stared down at her small hand and my chest felt like it was stretching. The tightness that surrounded me only grew stronger as I closed my hand around hers and led her out to the dance floor.

  I could feel eyes on me but right now I didn’t give a shit. They could look. They could judge me. This was what I wanted and until I said “I do” I
was going to spend time getting to know Della. If I didn’t, I’d regret it for the rest of my life.

  Jimmy had taken the mic and had just started singing “Wanted” by Hunter Hayes. I was thankful for a slower song. That meant I’d get to pull her closer.

  Della slid her hands up my arms and rested them there. She didn’t slip them behind my neck and press close to me.

  “You smell good,” she said softly. I almost missed it she’d spoke so quietly.

  “Not as good as you smell, trust me,” I replied and she tensed as my hands tightened their grip on her waist. “It’s the truth, Della. I’ve told you before that you smell incredible. Don’t get all uptight because I’m being honest.”

  She relaxed a little. “Okay, you’re right. No harm in thinking your friends smell good.” The teasing tone in her voice was cute.

  “Is there a rule that says since we’re friends you can’t wrap your hands around my neck?”

  Della paused a moment then her hands slid up and over my shoulders. They rested on my shoulders. “I’m not tall enough for them to go any further. Even in these boots.”

  “This is good,” I assured her and pulled her closer. “Where are you from Della Sloane?”

  She laughed. “You could easily look on the application that you had me fill out to find that information.”

  She was right. I could. “But I want to hear it from you. I don’t want to read it off your file.”

  Della tilted her head to the side and studied me a moment. “Macon, Georgia”

  I’d have guessed Alabama or Georgia. Her accent was thick. “Do you have brothers or sisters?”

  A melancholy look came over her face and she shook her head no. “No.” That simple ‘no’ sounded like so much more. She wasn’t telling me something.

  “You don’t seem like an only child. The carefree, travel the world choice of yours is more like something the baby of a family would do.”

  Della smiled but it was one that held secrets. I wondered if I’d ever know those secrets.

  “I’m not carefree. Not even close. But I want to be. I’m hoping one day I’ll know what that feels like. Right now I’m trying to find me. You know what you want out of life, I don’t. I have no idea.”

  What I wanted out of life? Did I know? Was it even the same anymore? “I know a lot less than you think I do.”

  She smirked. “Is that so?”

  Kissing those sexy little lips was tempting. Oh so tempting. “When’s your birthday?” I asked instead of responding to her remark.

  Della sighed and she looked away from me. “April sixth. When is yours?”

  “December tenth. What’s your favorite color?”

  She giggled. “Blue. Pale blue. What’s yours?”

  “A month ago I would have said red but I’ve changed my mind. I like blue now too.”

  “Why?” she cocked an eyebrow and gazed up at me.

  I wasn’t about to tell her it was because her eyes were blue. She’d get all tense on me again. “A guy can change his mind. I’m allowed to like blue now.” I didn’t give her time to think about that. “Who was your first grade teacher?” I asked quickly to distract her. Della stopped dancing and she backed away from me. Her eyes appeared almost glassy. Had I said something wrong? Had she figured out why I had said blue was my favorite color?

  “I need a drink,” she said with a wobbly nervous smile then darted off away from me.

  How could I upset her by asking her about her first grade teacher? There was something deep in her eyes that told a story I feared I’d never know.

  Della

  It was a simple question. Sweet, really, that he’d even care. Had anyone ever cared about such trivial things concerning me before? I had never been asked such personal innocent questions. But he’d asked about my teacher and all I could see was my mother.

  Sit here Della. Don’t look out the window. You have to do this work. To be smart you need to read Shakespeare. He will remind you how dangerous the world can be.

  I shook my head to clear the memories. I couldn’t do this here. Not now.

  It’s dark out there Della. Bad things are in the dark. Lock your windows and doors and stay tucked in tight. The monster under your bed will hear you if you get up.

  No momma. Go away.

  “Della, don’t go outside again tonight. The bad is out there waiting on you. Stay with me. Your brother worries about you. He doesn’t want you hurt. Be safe in your bed.”

  “Della, are you okay?” Strong arms were pulling me close. I went willingly. I needed away from her. I didn’t want to remember that night. I knew I would if she stayed in my head too long.

  “I’ve got her. Move.” Woods’ voice sent warmth through me. I was breaking free from the memories. They weren’t taking me this time.

  Cool night airbrushed my face and I realized I was being carried. I took a deep calming breath and the tightness in my chest was gone. Woods had brought me out of it. I hadn’t been left to remember alone.

  I blinked several times and my eyes came back into focus. The darkness was gone.

  Woods sat down on a bench along the beach boardwalk and kept me firmly in his lap. “You’re back,” he said simply.

  I nodded. I wasn’t sure what to say. I didn’t want to tell him what had just happened.

  “Good,” he said simply and brushed my hair out of my face with his free hand. He still held me cradled against his chest with his other.

  “Thank you.”

  Woods’ mouth was in a tight line. He was concerned. I’d scared him. I started to sit up and he held me tighter. “You’re not getting up until you tell me something.”

  My stomach knotted up. I’d never told anyone other than Braden and she knew why. I couldn’t tell Woods. I didn’t talk about it.

  “You don’t have to tell me why that just happened. But does it happen often?”

  This wasn’t a fair question. Telling him the truth without telling him about my past would only make him think I was crazy. Maybe I was. No one was sure yet. I could be… she was crazy. I could be too. It was my greatest fear, that I’d snap one day too. Just like she had. I wanted to live life because if that day came I wanted to have lived once.

  “They’re triggered by certain things,” I told him and moved to get out of his arms again. He let me go this time. I was grateful and yet wished he had fought to hold me longer. Because I needed affection from someone after I had these episodes. It helped me recover quicker.

  “I triggered it?” he asked.

  I shrugged and looked out at the gulf instead of at him. His question had triggered it. I wasn’t going to tell him that though.

  We sat there in silence for a few minutes. I knew his mind was running through all kinds of possibilities and none of them would be accurate.

  “I want to know you, Della. I don’t want to stop asking you questions. Next time maybe you can ask me questions that you don’t mind me asking you. That way I won’t ask the wrong thing.”

  He wanted to know me. My chest felt like it might burst. Tears stung my eyes and I blinked them back. I couldn’t cry on him now. “Okay,” I replied hoarsely.

  Woods’ hand reached over and covered mine, holding it firmly in his. He didn’t look at me. His eyes stared straight ahead at the waves crashing on the shore. When his fingers threaded through mine I let him. That simple touch was all I needed. Being here with him pushed back all the darkness. All the pain and sorrow was forgotten. I was okay. It felt good.

  “Woods? Is she okay?” Bethy’s voice called out and we both turned to look back at her walking out of the club and toward us.

  “She thinks you had too much to drink,” Woods said quietly beside me. I had forgotten about what everyone else thought of me.

  “I’m fine,” I told her as she walked up to us.

  “Oh thank God. I was sure I’d made you sick with those lemon shots. They can be fierce if you aren’t used to them.”

  “She just got overheated. That
mixed with the alcohol. The cool air brought her around,” Woods explained for me.

  Bethy’s relief was all over her face. “Thanks Woods. I can stay with her if you want to go back inside.”

  Woods’ hand tightened around mine. “No, I’m good right here. I needed a break too.”

  Bethy looked worried but finally nodded and went back inside.

  Once she was gone I glanced up at Woods. He was watching me. “Thank you for your help tonight. If you hadn’t stepped in that could have been really embarrassing.”

  Woods’ frown was etched with concern. “I’m glad I was there. What’s bothering me is the fact that you’re traveling all alone. What happens when you’re by yourself and this… this happens. Who helps you then?”

  No one. I managed. “I normally get away before it hits me hard and I deal with it.”

  Woods pulled my hand closer to his leg and instead of saying more or arguing with me about that being a bad idea he turned his attention back to the dark water.

  Woods

  “You need to get back into Jace’s party and I think I’m going to go back to the condo. I’m tired.” Della’s soft voice broke into my thoughts.

  I wanted to keep her here with me so I could watch her and make sure she was okay. But I knew that wasn’t an option.

  “I’ll drive you. Grant and I will get your car back to the condo for you later.” I wasn’t letting her drive back alone tonight. For my own sanity I needed to see her safely inside.

  “You don’t have to do that. I’m okay. Really I am,” she argued letting go of my hand and standing up.

  She might be okay but I wasn’t. “I’m driving you,” I repeated and stood up to tower in front of her. “Please. I’ll worry all night if you don’t let me.”

  A smile touched her pink lips and she nodded. “All right. Thank you.”

  I touched the small of her back because I needed to touch her somehow. The connection reminded me that she was fine now. I led her to my truck and helped her get in on the passenger side. The memory of throwing her inside once before only served to make me even more obsessive to keep her safe.