Hopelessly Imperfect (Imperfect #1) by Gabriela Cabezut

Chris away and told him to be careful.
    I tried to ignore the tingling sensation his hands had left on my arms, but it was as if a bolt of electricity had run through me.
    The feeling was imprinted in my mind by the end of the day. Even when I stayed in the library to work on my homework after school. I tried to ignore those tingles and the butterflies in my stomach when he turned those gray eyes on me, but I couldn’t concentrate. I stared at the written pages, my mind blank.
    Nathan Rivers was making me feel things . Things that maybe I wasn’t ready for. Or deserved.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Seven
     
     
    The semi-darkness of the room combined with the smell of incense was starting to feel familiar. Absentmindedly, I traced my finger along the carved elephant as Amanda finished a phone call. My eyes roamed all over her office, from the statue to the window that overlooked the park where I first talked to Nathan.
    My stomach churned uneasily at the mere thought of him. Boy, I’m screwed up.
    However, the spicy scent, the warmth of the room, and the teapot steaming on the hot plate on the table on the corner gave it all a sort of homey feeling. It felt more like visiting a friend than actual therapy. It was a nice change.
    Amanda finished her call and placed a small plate filled with buttery treats in the middle of the table. “I hope you like green tea.” She smiled while she poured the tea into a bright yellow mug. Her smile didn’t falter as she added nonchalantly. “Your father called me.”
    My heart felt heavy at her words. I shifted in my seat uncomfortably.
    Ignoring my awkwardness, she eyed me softly. “He seemed concerned.”
    Could he think I might want to hurt myself again?
    Guilt and shame washed over me. Of course he did. I had done it once, and I could very well do it again, right?
    Sighing, I followed her every move as she poured herself some tea. “I’m fine.” I hated how worried he always seemed to be over me. And I knew I had no one to blame but myself about it.
    “Are you?” She placed the mug in front of me as she raised an eyebrow.
    My shoulders slumped as my eyes followed the delicate pattern the steam was drawing over the mug. My brows creased as I murmured, “He’s dating Marie.” Amanda took a sip of her tea as I gazed at her. She wasn’t surprised or alarmed as I expected her to be. Her eyes were steady as she stared back at me. “But you already knew that, right?”
    Her lips set in a straight line. “Yes. Your father called me last week. He was worried about your reaction and wanted to let me know in advance.” How thoughtful of him , I sourly thought.
    She grabbed the plate of cookies and took one before placing it closer to me on the table. “Want to talk about it?” she asked before bringing the small cookie to her mouth.
    No.
    My eyes turned to the large window once again. Resentment boiled inside me. It felt like Dad was being reckless, like he was replacing Mom. It angered me to see him with another woman so soon. And her best friend, no less.
    Of course my reaction concerned him. I was shocked and completely outraged at the whole situation. It felt unfair that I was sitting in the therapist’s office when it was clear he needed therapy as well.
    Silence reigned over the room as I glared outside. My eyes turned to the clock next to the incense, and I grimaced as less than fifteen minutes had passed. Time seemed to be too slow. The annoyance I felt over the whole situation started to dissipate as my right hand touched my scar.
    Had I been so absorbed in my pain that I never saw this coming? Was I being selfish? Did I have any right to be angry at him?
    After all, I’d been in my own little world, and it never occurred to me once that anything like this could ever happen. But that was it. I was always concerned about myself.
    I gnawed on my lip. The minutes passed as Amanda patiently waited for me to say something while she drank her tea.
    Feeling