Perfectly Flawed (20 page)

Chapter 24

After another sleepless night, Sean showered and dressed for a meeting at the law firm. The majority of the work was done and Emmett had scheduled a conference to wrap it up. The possibility of seeing Adrianna was a shred of hope in an otherwise bleak day.

Though her leg was cut, a sign of emotional trauma, it was not incapacitating. If she wore a long skirt, no one would be the wiser. Sean anticipated seeing her, and was naïve enough to hope for a change in her mood. Not that he thought she’d just apologize and everything would be back to normal.

Even Sean wasn’t that starry-eyed. It would take more than that. But he was up to the task. He just needed an opening, anything to show him Adrianna was ready to try. Though it was a mere twenty-four hours since she’d shut the door on him, Sean still prayed for a change of heart.

Arriving early, Sean chatted with Emmett and sipped coffee, then paced the room while his client took a call.

“Yes, Adrianna.”

Sean’s ears perked up.

“I’m sorry to hear that. No problem. I’m sure we can manage. Yes. Please get better. I’ll email a summary of our meeting.”

Though Sean knew what he was going to say, a lump formed in his throat at Emmett’s words. “That was Adrianna, as I’m sure you heard. She’s ill today and won’t be able to make it to our meeting.”

Sean’s shoulders slumped. Demoralized, he plopped into a chair. Once again he failed to see Adrianna, and his chance of talking with her had vanished.

“I think we can conclude matters, just the two of us. Adrianna has been very responsive. If we need any modifications to her designs, I’ll email the change request.”

Sean barely heard anything after that. The short meeting seemed to drag, and when Emmett finally released him, he bolted for the elevator. He didn’t care if Adrianna wanted to see him or not. Enough. Sean was going to see her and talk some sense into her.

At her aunt’s house, he was disheartened to hear that Adrianna wasn’t home. She’d gone out with
Cari, which was likely a good thing. Maybe it would lift her spirits. Krista’s upbeat take on the situation did nothing for Sean. The fact that she wasn’t home made it impossible to speak with her.

Recently his life had seemed filled with waiting, and he was tired of it. Calling would be pointless, knowing that Adrianna wouldn’t pick up. Given that it was a weekday, his pals would be either working or in class. Sean was alone, wallowing in misery. Nell wasn’t an option.

A killer workout would have to do, an outlet for the powerful emotions fighting inside him. Bradan was working too, so he’d have to attack the weights by himself. Whiskey sounded awfully tempting, but he fought the urge. The last thing he wanted to do was show up drunk to see Adrianna. That would finish the job of tearing them apart.

No, he had to stay lucid, as difficult as that was. If Adrianna was with
Cari, they’d be shopping. And in a city like Boston, there were many options. His only choice was to seek a diversion until she returned. Eventually, she had to come home, and then he’d talk to her.

Two hours later, after huffing and sweating with the iron, Sean showered and strolled back to his car. Shopping was a bit of a mystery. Sometimes women could be gone all day shopping. He never understood how they found that enjoyable. Buy what you need and get out, that was how he did it.

Anyway, he’d worked up an appetite. Eating would waste another hour at least. Then he’d try again. At least he’d been smart enough to get Krista’s phone number this time. Driving over there several times a day was getting embarrassing. He loved Adrianna, but still. After his burger, he’d call.

Krista must be getting used to him. Without hesitation, she filled him in: “She came back from shopping. But she’s gone out. She changed into one of her new dresses and went out for the evening.”

Sean looked at the dashboard clock. It was late afternoon. Adrianna was going out early.

“Did she say where she was going?”

“No, I didn’t want to pry. She seems overly sensitive. And she didn’t volunteer any information. I had hoped she was going out with you.”

“No, unfortunately.
Not me.”

“Okay, Sean. Well, I’m sorry. You seem so nice. I know you care about her. You just have to give her a little time. The whole incident was difficult…and it’s not the first time for Adrianna.”

“What do you mean?”

“Oh…just that she’s cut before.”

Sean had a vague sense that Krista held back from telling him more. A woman didn’t cut for no reason, and he knew so little about what went on inside Adrianna’s head.

“Okay. Thanks.”

Now what? Then inspiration struck. Cari—she would know. Adrianna’s best friend would have to know what was going on. He’d go see her. Feeling a bit more optimistic, Sean headed to the house where he’d so recently partied. Probably her parents were still away. Adrianna had mentioned they were on vacation.

Sean rang the bell and waited. After a brief wait,
Cari opened the door, wearing jeans and a sweatshirt. Even in her casual garb with her hair pulled back in a loose ponytail, she looked ready for a photo shoot. Some women just had the look.

“Sean.”

“Hi, Cari. Can I talk to you? It’s really important.”

“Sure, come in.” She walked toward the huge kitchen area, clearly assuming he’d follow.

Sliding up on a high stool, she dangled her bare feet and looked at him. “So, what’s this about?”

Sean slouched into one of the nook chairs.

“Want something to drink?” Cari asked.

“Yeah, got any whiskey?”

Cari grinned. “Sure.” She scampered over to a tall cupboard and opened it. Sean could see a variety of liquor. “Care what brand?”

“Nope.”

She poured the amber liquid into a shot glass and plunked it down on the table in front of him. Hopping back on the stool, she said, “Now. What?”

Sean downed his whiskey in one big gulp. “Well, you obviously know Adrianna and I were together the other night.”

“Obviously.” Cari grinned again.

“Something happened,
Cari. And I don’t understand it.”

“Oh.” Her gaze fell to the countertop. “You mean the cutting.”

“Yes. It worries me.”

“She hasn’t done that in a long time.”

“I know, but now she has. What’s up with that? You’re her closest friend; you must know.”

“I don’t. She didn’t want to talk about it. I know she’ll tell me when she’s ready. We just went shopping. That’s the best thing. When she’s down, we go shopping. It always works.”

“Do you have any idea what got her so upset?”

Cari
shook her head.

“Damn.”

“I know, Sean. She’s a tough one to understand sometimes. But Adrianna’s just had a rough time.”

“Everybody keeps saying that, but nobody tells me what that means.”

Cari flushed. “Well, she’d kill me if I said anything.”

“I won’t tell.”

“Even I don’t know it all. I just know that she’s sensitive. And her dad was, well, abusive.”

“He hit her?”

Cari nodded. “More than once.”

Sean shook his head.

“And her mother’s not much better. She rags on her about everything, always nitpicking and criticizing. Sometimes I can’t even take it. When she starts up and I’m around, I leave. But Adrianna couldn’t just leave. She lived there.”

Sean rubbed his hands through his hair. “Do you know where she is now?”

“No.”

“You don’t know who she’s with?”

“I didn’t say that.”

Sean glared at her.

“She went out with Kevin.”

Adrenaline pumped through Sean’s veins, the urge to fight surfacing. “That’s a guy I’d like to punch.”

“Jealous?”

“You could say. Plus, speaking of hitting…”

“Kevin hit her?”

Sean just looked back.

“God, she didn’t tell me. After the party I texted her, wanting to know about you guys. And next thing I know she’s talking about seeing Kevin tonight. Wouldn’t say a peep about what happened between you and her. I thought she was over Kevin.”

“Me too.”

Cari pulled on her ponytail. “I’m worried about her. This doesn’t sound good.”

“Any idea where they’d go?”

“There’s lots of places around here. It could be any one of them. I doubt she’ll go to our regular club. You’ve been there, and I have a feeling she doesn’t want to run into you.”

“Yeah, I’m sure.” Sean stared at the tile floor, thwarted once again. “Got any more of that whiskey?”

“Sure.” Cari poured him another drink, which he downed in one gulp, same as the first. Then he thanked her and left.

The sun was beginning to set, and there were lots of clubs in the vicinity. He’d better get started. Though it was unlikely Adrianna would go to Polarize, he couldn’t rule it out. He’d go there first. The whiskey had calmed his nerves, and the conversation had strengthened his
resolve. Knowing Adrianna needed him, whether she knew it or not, was a strong motivation.

After several hours and numerous clubs, Sean began to see the folly of searching for her. The only logical course was to wait for her to return to Krista’s. There was always the chance she’d go home with Kevin, but Sean couldn’t think that. No, she’d come home like she did every night. Spending the night wasn’t her style; he knew that from personal experience.

The later it got, the hungrier Sean got. The burger had been hours earlier and wasn’t enough to sustain him all night. But he was unwilling to leave his post. Confidence that he’d see Adrianna before the night was over kept him from leaving. Listening to music, he closed his eyes, wondering what he would do when she finally did arrive.

Sean glanced at the time to see it was nearly eleven thirty. Then he heard a car behind him, and the headlights shone into his rearview mirror, blinding him. The car pulled along the curb a few car lengths ahead of him, and he saw Adrianna in the passenger seat. Before he could react, she jumped out of the car and started up the front steps.

Kevin was right behind her, and he yelled, “You’re such a bitch, Adrianna.” Racing up the steps two at a time, Kevin caught her by the arm.

Sean was out of his car, jogging toward them.

“Let me go. I told you I want to go in.”

The little weave Adrianna made when she tried to step made Sean hurry. And her words sounded slurred.

Kevin had his hands on her arms and was shouting. “I try to be nice to you, but you treat me like shit.”

Sean’s heart pounded. He could feel the anger, and could see the scene playing out in slow motion. But before Kevin could make another move, Sean had his arms around Adrianna.

“Stand back, asshole.”

“You again.”
Kevin smirked.

Sean could smell alcohol on Adrianna’s breath.
A lot of it.

“And she doesn’t drink, idiot. What have you been doing? Why are you letting her drink?”

Adrianna swooned and leaned against Sean. He held tight.

“I don’t let Adrianna do anything,” Kevin shouted. “She makes her own decisions. And I seem to recall she doesn’t want to see you.”

Sean held Adrianna’s head against his chest, and keeping her safe was the only thing that prevented him from going after Kevin with both fists.

“Buzz off.”

Kevin clenched his fists.

“Don’t even try it.” Sean stiffened. He could only take so much of this wimp. “You’ll be sorry. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“Adrianna.” Kevin looked at her in Sean’s arms and turned away. “Don’t be surprised if I don’t call. You may have lost your chance with me…bitch.”

Sean turned his back to him and lifted Adrianna’s chin to see what shape she was in.

She grinned at him a little sheepishly and batted her eyes.

“You’re drunk, love.”

“I’m drunk,” she echoed. “What do you care?”

“I care.”

“Liar.”

“It’s the truth. I care. We need to get you someplace where you can sober up. And I’m not letting you out of my sight. It never goes well when I let you go.”

Sean guided Adrianna back down the stairs, half carrying her.

“Where are we going?”

Sean got her into the passenger seat and belted her in. Sliding into the driver’s side, he looked over at her. Adrianna’s eyes were closed. Just as well, she could pass out. As long as she was safe, it didn’t matter. He’d take care of her. Now he’d take care of her.

He carried her up to his apartment, not sure she could walk on her own, and placed her lovingly on his bed. Then he removed her high heels and looked at her. She was still pretty much out of it, but she was beautiful. The red spandex dress she wore clung to her lush curves. The hem rode up to the top of her thighs, showing her shapely legs. A wide white bandage was wrapped around her right thigh, just above the knee.