The Pickup (Imperfect Love 1)

“And Belle… you didn’t see her doubting the Beast. She went all in. Accepting him the way he was and falling in love, despite him looking like a scary monster. Oh! And Jasmine! She fought right alongside Aladdin against that asshole, Jafar. Aurora in Sleeping Beauty; she was strong until she pricked her damn finger and passed the hell out.”

Giselle scoots closer to me and pats my leg. “You want this fairytale, but no one said it would be easy. You may have seen your parents in love, but you didn’t see the hard work that went into their relationship. We always remember the happily-ever-after in these movies, but too often we forget the effort and struggle and heartache the characters have to endure in order to get that ending.”

“When did you get so wise?” I joke, and Giselle pulls me into a hug. “I’m going to do it.” I nod emphatically into her neck before pulling back. “I’m going to go all in. Consequences be damned.”

“That’s my girl.”

I stand and grab my keys, then remember I drank some wine. “I’m going to call a Lyft. Can you watch Reed?”

“You’re going to Nick’s now?”

“He told me to let him know, and he leaves in the morning. I don’t want to tell him over the phone. When I get back, I’ll pack for Reed and me. Any chance you want to take a trip to Denver with us?”

“Oh no…you aren’t using me as your buffer.” Giselle shoots me a playful wink. “Besides, I love my job, and I’m pretty sure it’s too soon to request time off.” She laughs. “Go…go tell your baby daddy what he wants to hear.”

I give her a hug then call for a Lyft. I’ve never been to Nick’s home before, but I know what his address is from when he gave it to me. I tell the driver where I need to go, and about fifteen minutes later, I’m outside of his building. It’s a nice skyrise condominium in Lower Manhattan. I walk through the marbled lobby and press the intercom for his number. Without him saying a word, I’m buzzed up.

The elevator doors open and his door is the only one on the floor. I knock once, and the door swings open. Only it’s not Nick, it’s Celeste.

She’s standing in the doorway—all six feet of legs—in a pantsuit and heels, her makeup done to perfection and not a single hair out of place. And then I glance down at myself…I ran out the door without even thinking. I’m in sweats and a hoodie, and I’m almost positive there’s some stupid logo or saying scrawled across my ass. I have zero makeup on, and my hair is up in a messy bun—and I’m not talking about those ‘cute’ messy buns. I’m talking the real ones that look like a rat has made his nest up in there.

“Can I help you?” She stands taller—if that’s even possible—her chin jutting out.

“I was hoping to…” But I stop speaking because suddenly it’s all pointless, my reason for being here. If they’re back together, I’m here for no reason. Just as I’m about to turn around, Giselle’s words come back to me. “We forget the struggle and heartbreak…”

“I was hoping to speak to Nick,” I say with more confidence than I feel. He asked me to give him a chance, and if something has changed then he can man up and tell me himself.

“I figured as much when I saw you on the camera asking to be let up. He’s not here.” She closes the door in my face. Okay then…

I make my way back to the elevator, shooting a text to Nick.

Me: Where are you?

The bubbles appear instantly.

Nick: Killian’s

Nick: Everything okay?

Me: I came by your place…

The bubbles appear and then disappear, and a second later, my phone rings.

“Hello?”

“What did Celeste do?”

“Slammed the door in my face.”

Nick sighs. “This is the part of the story where you come across the evil witch.” I can’t help but laugh at his Disney story reference. “But have no fear because your prince has already taken her down.”

“Are you still going on with that stupid fucking analogy?” I hear Killian yell in the background. The phone is muffled for a few seconds and then Nick comes back on the line.

“So, does you coming by my place mean you’ve decided?”

“Umm…can we get back to you taking down the evil witch? She’s in your home…”

“She got back from Milan today. I was just kidding about taking her down. She’d probably kick my ass with those ten inch heels of hers. She’s moving her stuff out, though, as we speak. Now, back to us…”

“There’s a really good possibility I’m going to regret this.”

“There’s a really good possibility you won’t.”

“What if we don’t work?”

“What if we do?”

“I don’t remember any of the Disney movies having this plot,” I joke.