The Pickup (Imperfect Love 1)

Nick leans in close to me, his cool breath hitting my neck. “Don’t listen to anything Killian says, ever.” Then he leans in even closer. “I was actually thinking that maybe you and Reed could join me. Eighty degrees and sunshine.” I turn my head and have to back up slightly so our faces don’t bump.

Nick waggles his eyebrows, and I’m at a complete loss. I know his offer is innocent, but my body doesn’t necessarily understand that.

“I—” I clear my throat. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. Giselle’s birthday is this week, so we’re going to do a girls’ day.” Giselle gives me a confused look but goes along with it. It really is her birthday, but we hadn’t solidified any plans yet.

“Yeah, I’m turning the big two-five,” she says. “We’re going to spend the day at the spa.”

“Okay.” He nods in understanding. “Next time.”

Sixteen

Nick

It’s been a little over a month since my life was forever changed with the birth of my son. We’ve won all three of our playoff games, which means this coming weekend we’ll be playing in the Super Bowl. Because the game will be in Denver, I won’t be able to see Reed or Olivia this weekend. I haven’t taken him for the night since New Year’s Eve, and we haven’t discussed it, but I make sure to see him several times a week. I usually come by every Tuesday and Thursday and one day during the weekend depending on which day we’re playing or if we’re out of town.

Olivia has put up an impenetrable wall when it comes to me. It’s tall and concrete, and I haven’t got a clue how the fuck I’m going to break it down. Sure, she’ll send photos of Reed when I ask, but if I try to find a crack in her wall, try to sneak in through a crevice, she’s right there, spackling the shit out of it, making sure I have no way in.

I’ve tried to text her several times, asking how she’s doing or what she’s up to, but she keeps it all about Reed. When I ask her to lunch or dinner, she comes up with some excuse as to why she can’t go.

After practice, I’m planning to spend the afternoon with her and Reed, and I’m hoping maybe while he’s napping, we can discuss the possibility of us. I’ve thought long and hard about what her dad said. And I know, had she left me her number that morning in the hotel room, I would have sought her out. That night was completely different than anything I’ve experienced, and I want to see if given the chance, we could work.

Since I needed clarification on what Coach meant, I made Killian watch a Disney princess movie with me. His niece owns a bunch of them, so I had him snag one and bring it over. He thought I’d lost my mind, but I needed to know what I’m working with here. Which play is going to land me the touchdown.

“Here ya go!” He flings the DVD at me. “Planning to become one with your inner-princess self?” He chuckles and plops his ass onto the couch.

“Fuck you. I need to see how it goes.”

“How the movie goes? I can give you a play-by-play. My niece makes me watch this crap every time I babysit, so my brother and his wife can go out for some adult time. The girl seeks love, there’s an evil queen who tries to fuck it up, there’s a throw down of some sort, the prince saves her, and they live happily ever after. The end.”

I stare at him in silence. Clearly, there’s more to this shit than that. “Let’s just watch the damn movie.”

“First tell me why,” Killian insists.

“Liv’s dad said she wants the fairytale. He even compared it to a Disney movie. Usually the key to a woman’s heart is through my bank account, but not when it comes to Liv. She’s not letting me in. So, I’m going to figure out how to give it to her.”

“The bank account?”

“No! The fairytale!”

“You’re fucking nuts, man. Fairytale’s aren’t real. What you need to watch is Daddy’s Home.” He cackles, and I lift one brow, silently asking him to explain. “You know…the one where the dad and the stepdad are forced to get along. It’s hilarious and more accurate in our generation.”

“What happens in the movie?”

“The stepdad wants the kids to love him, but the real dad comes in and messes it up. Eventually they all co-exist.”

I grab my pillow and throw it at him. “I’m not preparing for Olivia to end up with another guy!”

“You really like this woman, don’t you?”

“Yeah, I do. I really liked her when I spent the night with her, but as you know, she left without leaving her number. Now I feel like I’ve been given a second chance, and I don’t want to fuck it up. She’s not like anyone I’ve ever met.”