The Pickup (Imperfect Love 1)

“But thirty is still so young. You were willing to give up on love at thirty?”

“I was twenty when I made the stupid pact. I was young and didn’t, for a second, think I would end up thirty and alone. But over the years I allowed football and my parents to run my life, and the results were a lot of failed relationships. That morning I went to meet with Declan Thomas, the Brewers’ owner, and your dad.” He laughs. “It’s kind of ironic actually.”

“What?” I ask.

“Your dad and Declan sat me down and told me I needed to settle down. They had a photo from an online tabloid of you and me walking into the hotel, but because I was towering over you, they couldn’t see your face.”

“Oh my God!” I jump to my feet and gasp in shock. “Had my face been in the image, my dad would’ve known we hooked up that night.”

“Exactly,” Nicks agrees. “But they couldn’t tell who the woman was. All they knew was that my partying was a bit out of control and they needed to clean up my image so I could be the face of the team.”

“So you agreed to the pact you made with Celeste.”

“Yeah,” Nick admits with a nod. “I guess I just needed a break from it all, and being with Celeste forced me to settle down and focus on football again…without putting my heart on the line.”

“So, what’s changed?” Why is he suddenly willing to put his heart back out there?

“You. Reed. I felt something for you the night we were together before I even knew we created Reed. But you left. So when I felt like my back was against the wall, I took the easy way out and agreed to give Celeste’s way a chance.”

“And what? You told Celeste you’ve changed your mind? I can’t imagine that went over well.”

“She’s been one of my best friends for years. Yeah, she’s hurt, but she understands. We’ve never even slept together.”

Whoa! Okay, then. So it really was all business.

“I think right now she’s more upset about her half of the pact.” Nick smirks.

“What do you mean?”

“If I find love, she has to stop looking for a rich guy to be in a business arrangement with and try to find love as well.”

“But you didn’t find love. I mean, what we had…that night…”

“It was more than a one-night stand, Brown-Eyes. It might not have been love, but it was more, and if you give me a chance—us a chance—it can grow into love. What we have is different, and I think you feel it too.” He’s right. The night we spent together, the chemistry we shared. It was more, which is why I ran scared the morning after.

“I need some time to think.” His face falls, and my heart cracks. “I’m not saying no. I’ve just…I’ve been hurt, Nick. I thought someone loved me and it turned out he didn’t. Then to find out he cheated…it really hurt.”

“I understand,” he says. “I’ve been there, but I’m not him, Liv.”

“I know you’re not. But what if you’re only doing this because I’m the mother of your son? Or what if I only say yes because I want the fairytale. I just need to think about everything. Had I not come back, you would still be with Celeste in a relationship of convenience. Now you’re telling me you want the real deal.”

“Celeste and I wouldn’t have ever worked out.” He stands and walks the short distance over to where I am. “It was nothing more than a temporary band-aid.” His arms encircle my waist, his face nuzzling into my hair. “But I get it. You think, and I’ll be waiting.” He gives me a soft kiss on my cheek and then backs up slightly. “I have to get packed for Denver. We leave tomorrow. If you’re willing to give me a chance—to give us a chance—come with me. The team charters a private plane there, so Reed won’t be on a commercial flight. You can stay in the same hotel we stay in, and after the Super Bowl, we can spend some time together, the three of us.”

“I don’t think I can decide that quickly,” I admit. “This is a big decision to make.”

“If you need more time then that’s fine too,” Nick assures me. Then he steps back into my space once more and gives me a kiss on the corner of my mouth. “I’ll be here,” he murmurs, “if or when you’re ready. If you don’t go to Denver, I won’t hold it against you. Just promise to put Reed’s swing in front of the TV so he can watch his dad kick some ass.” He backs up once again and shoots me a playful wink.

“Now, that I can do for sure.”