Perfectly Imperfect(100)

I step forward, ready to climb back on him, but my phone picks that moment to remind me of why I had ever left the bed—his arms—to begin with.

“Crap.” I sigh, as longing drips from my exaggerated exhale.

I turn, reluctantly walking from the man my body craves greedily.

I search in my purse for the offending device and grab it as another burst of noise sounds.

I give him a silent apology when I see he was right about the caller and press accept, then speaker, before returning to the bed. I give in to my need for his touch, crawling in and tucking my body to his side. My head against his chest, arm on his abs, I sigh when I see his erection still in my line of sight around the phone.

“Damn.” I groan, vocalizing my frustration at being kept from the part of him that I want.

“Willow Elizabeth! Did you just say a wordy-dirty?!” Eddie gasps loudly through the line.

“She did, I heard her,” Kirby’s voice chimes in, and I frown at the phone.

“Three-way, baby,” Kane whispers loudly, his chest moving before the he lets out a low chuckle.

“I knew that,” I defend, lifting my head and looking over to roll my eyes at him, which only making his laughter grow.

“Oh, that’s a hot sound. Did you just wake up, Mr. Masters?” Eddie asks wistfully.

“Don’t perv on Willow’s man, Edward. That’s just wrong.”

“No, it isn’t. You heard it. That sounded like a sex voice. Say something. Come on.”

Kane bursts out a loud bark of hilarity, and I narrow my eyes at the phone.

“Shut up, Edward,” Kirby orders.

“You never let me have any fun,” he whines.

Clearing my throat, I wade in before they start going back and forth. When those two get going, there’s no telling how long it will last. They’re worse than siblings are.

“Is there a point to this chat or did you two just call so that Eddie could flirt with my boyfriend?”

“She said boyfriend, Kirby. Did you hear that?”

I roll my eyes, again, at Eddie.

“I did! Isn’t it adorable?”

“Hey! Come on!” I growl some sort of annoyed noise deep in my throat, the chest that I’m lying on quivering again. “You are all hilarious. Very hilarious. Let’s all poke fun at Willow this morning.”

“Oh, come on, Wills. We’re just happy for you, that’s all.”

“Happy and flirting with Kane?” I snap back at Eddie.

“Well, you open those pretty little eyes and look at him. You would do the same.”

He’s right.

“Is there a reason you two are calling me nonstop?”

“Yeah, Wills,” Kirby responds, the lightness in her voice gone.

I lift up and look at Kane in question, but he just shrugs. “And are you going to tell me what that might be?”

Eddie clears his throat. Kirby lets out a deep sigh.

“Well?” I continue.

“We saw the news this morning. You can’t miss it, honey. Every entertainment station is either playing some sort of highlight reel or using those little black tickers on the bottom of the screen to spread the word. You two are the top story on three morning shows and that doesn’t even count the Google alerts I have on Kane that have been going insane since late last night.”

I let that sink in before I respond to Eddie. “You have Google alerts set to Kane?”

“Uh, duh.”

“Right. Okay. That’s not creepy or anything.”

“We’re getting off track,” Kirby complains. “Kane, I know you’re there and listening and even though you’re my boss, I’m about to step all over that line of professionalism here.”

“I wouldn’t expect anything less,” he calmly answers.

“I know,” she smugly says. “Let me just cut to the chase. While I commend you for that big spectacle you made last night—or early this morning, whatever—I’m a little concerned about Willow, and I wanted, no, we wanted, to make sure she’s okay.”

I settle back down, letting the tension out of my body. “I’m perfect,” I tell them, meaning every word.

“Wills, honey, there are some pretty intense things being said.”

“Being?” I request.

“Willow,” Kane exhales in warning.

Leaning back up, again, I look him in the eye. “I’m okay,” I mouth. He doesn’t look happy, but nods and holds himself tense.

“Well, Wills,” Eddie starts, clearly unsure if he should repeat the rumors.

“Shit. Okay,” Kirby interrupts. “They’re saying that even though Kane confirmed he is very much in a relationship with his new lady friend, there is already trouble in paradise because of the strain this affair has had on you two in the wake of his cheating being the reason he split with Mia. It’s not pretty, Wills, and I hate to ask you this, but are they true?”

I should be mad she’s asking. She has spent time with Kane, with the two of us together, and with each of us separately. She shouldn’t be so easily fooled.

“Kirby,” I warn.

“I know, I know! I’m sorry. But, Willow, there are some really nasty things being said. I just have to know that you’re okay. Kane, I’m sorry again, but it has to be said. They’re saying that an insider has confirmed Mia’s baby is his! I’m just worried about you.”