Free Imperfectly Real (A Series of Imperfections) by A.E. Woodward Page A
Authors: A.E. Woodward
Tags: Contemporary
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
“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