The Pickup (Imperfect Love 1)

“Nope, it must be something in the air…pollen or dust…”

“Yeah, okay. Have it your way. But I’m not letting this pact go. You better get ready to find your true love.”

“Talk to me once you’re actually in love and in it for the long haul, lover boy.” She pats my chest playfully, but the sadness in her features remain. “I need to catch my flight.” She leans over and gives my cheek a kiss. “I’m sorry for what your mom did. Please believe me when I say I never wanted to see you hurt.”

* * *

“1-right, 11 belly, pass on 2.” The guys scramble, and I completely forget the play I just called. Luckily, Craig Stratum, one of the wide receivers, is open, and I throw it right into his awaiting hands.

“That wasn’t the play!” Coach yells, not missing a beat. “Where’s your head at? That’s the fifth play you’ve messed up!” On any given practice, we’ll go through over a hundred different plays, and I always get them right. Today, my head isn’t in the game.

“All right,” Coach yells. “Head on over to the weight room and give me an hour and then we’re done for the day. Nick, wait back a minute.” I jog over to Coach Harper, and he waits until everyone has cleared the field to speak. “You’re not yourself today. How’s your arm feeling?”

“It’s solid,” I answer truthfully.

“Good. Then what’s going on?”

“Just some personal shit. I’ll get my head back in the game.”

“Okay,” he says, not pressing me for more. “After your workout, want to get a session in?” Coach Harper has been my biggest supporter since he picked me up last year. He’s stayed after everyone’s left to help me more times than I can count. I’ve missed working out with him these last few weeks.

“I would, but I told Liv I’d pick her up for Reed’s check-up.” Coach nods, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.

“I heard what you did on New Year’s Eve.” Unsure of what he’s referring to, I give him a puzzled look.

“You spent the night so Reed would be home.”

“I fell asleep…”

“You didn’t have to do that. You have no idea how much that meant to Olivia. I know the day will come when you’ll pick up your son, and she’ll have to accept that she’s in a co-parenting situation, but thank you for giving her a little bit of time.”

“What if it didn’t have to be that way?”

“What do you mean?” He cocks his head to the side.

“What if I wanted to be more than parents with her?”

“Are you asking my permission to date my daughter? While you’re engaged?” He shoots me a look of disappointment.

“I called off the engagement. Celeste is moving her stuff out when she gets back from Milan.” Coach nods slowly, taking a second to think about what I’ve told him.

“I’ve never been in this situation. The first time I fell in love was with Olivia’s mom, and I loved her until the day she died. The second time was with Corrine. It was a few years after Francesca died. I never imagined I would fall in love again, and at first, I felt so damn guilty for moving on. But when I called Olivia and told her, she said, ‘Dad, we don’t decide who we love; the world decides for us. And if Corrine is who you love, you can’t turn your back on it. Nobody should be without love.’”

Coach Harper smiles in memory. “My daughter has always believed in true love, probably more than most. She believes in the happily-ever-after—the fairytales you see in the Disney movies—and it’s my fault. What her mother and I had was pretty damn close to what you see in those movies, and even when times were tough, we never let her see those moments. She grew up believing that’s how love should be. Now I’m afraid one day she’ll wake up and lose her belief that true love exists. She’s already made comments about that dumbass Victor cheating on her. And then to top it off, she’s being so hard on herself over how Reed was created.” He shakes his head, and I’m stunned by the turn this conversation has taken. This is the same man who drills us every day on the field, and he’s talking about Disney movies and fairytales and shit.

“I guess what I’m trying to say is before you make a move on my daughter, you need to figure out if you believe in love. If you’re willing to give her, her happily-ever-after. Because if you aren’t, stick to co-parenting. Let her find the guy who can give her what she deserves. My daughter deserves her fairytale ending.”

I know exactly the kind of love Olivia wants because it’s the same kind I want.