The Pickup (Imperfect Love 1)

“Fourteen days for the temporary visitation and thirty days for the shared custody.”

“Okay, can you please hold off until the last day? Maybe he’ll change his mind.”

We say goodbye, and I call my dad. When he doesn’t answer, I remember it’s Friday. Tomorrow is game day. I look online and see it’s a home game. Good! That means I won’t have to wait for Nick to get home to kill him. Then an idea forms. He wants to fuck with me, well two can play this game.

* * *

I’ve rallied up my girls—Corrine, Shelby, and Giselle—and we’re in the owner’s box getting situated. I didn’t tell them my plan, in fear they would try to stop me, but I still wanted them with me in case anything goes down. I know they’ll have my back regardless if they think I’ve done something stupid. Reed is sleeping, and I’m looking around for my target. If she’s not here, my plan won’t work. I spot her, and when she notices me, I set my plan into action. Immature, sure. Dirty, definitely. But so was Nick filing for custody without telling me!

Gently, I shake Reed awake—don’t judge me. He begins to cry, and everyone’s eyes start darting over to us. Giselle shoots me a confused look, but I ignore her, standing up and pretending to soothe him. The truth is, he hates it when you rock him too much. He prefers to be swayed. His cries continue to get louder. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Nick’s fiancée staring at Reed in horror, her mouth pinched in annoyance and her eyes squinting in pain at the loud cries coming from my baby. I hold back my grin, pretending to look concerned, meanwhile Reed is now pissed off and wailing at the top of his lungs. I want nothing more than to soothe him, and I will soon.

Celeste continues to glare daggers my way, her eyes squinting from Reed’s ear-piercing screams. And then when she can’t take it any longer, she swipes up her purse and stomps out of the room. As soon as the door closes behind her, I immediately slow down my rocking, and my baby boy instantly lowers his cries. “Shh…Mommy’s sorry, baby,” I coo softly, wiping his tears away. His eyes begin to flutter closed.

“You’re bad.” Corrine smirks knowingly.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I play stupid, trying to hide my triumphant grin.

“I’ve seen her here several times. She shows up once in a while to support her fiancé. She’s always dressed impeccably and always makes sure to speak to the media.”

“If I’ve learned anything from watching my dad with my mom and then with you, it’s that men follow their woman’s lead. If he’s filed for custody because she wants to play house, hopefully this will have her thinking twice.”

“And if he filed because he wants to be a dad?” I still at her question. I hadn’t thought about that. I’ve been so mad over the fact that he filed behind my back, I never considered his motives, or that they might be pure.

“I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it. Based on her reaction to Reed crying, if she did want to play house, she’ll more than likely be begging him to drop his petition for joint custody. I guess we’ll find out soon enough what his motives are.”

Corrine gives me a soft smile, the one moms give their kids right before they’re about to give them advice. “I know you’re hurt and nothing is happening how you imagined it. But the one thing I learned from my divorce with Shelby’s dad is that it’s better to get along and play nice than to piss everyone off. If he’s serious about being a dad, you both will be raising Reed together for the next eighteen years.”

* * *

We stay for the entire game. Eventually Celeste returns, but I don’t play any more games—not wanting to upset Reed again. New York wins, and after the teams make their way off the field and into the locker rooms, Giselle and I take off. I had wanted to confront Nick, but Corrine’s words have me wanting to avoid him while I come to terms with the harsh reality of this situation. If he’s filed because he wants to be a dad, I’m going to have to share my son…our son with him—as well as with his soon-to-be wife.

We get home and I lay Reed down to sleep in his crib. Grabbing a glass of wine and my laptop, I pull up a couple museum sites in the area. While I love being home with Reed, one day I’m going to want to find a job doing what I’m passionate about—sharing my love for art with others. I had planned to go back to France one day, but now I’m not sure that will be possible.