The Pickup (Imperfect Love 1)

“Damn, man…you could’ve at least told me,” Killian says, and I’m confused as hell.

“Told you what?”

He throws the iPad into my lap, and when I read the headline, my heart stops.

*Nick Shaw signs five-year contract with Los Angeles*

I scroll down and read the story. It says I signed the contract a couple weeks ago and will be their starting QB. “This doesn’t make any sense.” I click out of the article and google my name. Article after article all say the same thing.

“You’re saying you didn’t sign with LA?” Killian asks, and I see Olivia’s head pop up out of the corner of my eye.

“You signed with LA?” she asks, hurt evident in every word.

“No.” I shake my head. “This doesn’t make sense.”

“They can’t just print something like that if it’s not true, Nick,” Giselle points out. And she’s right. There’s no way LA would announce something false, nor would ESPN.

I go to call my dad but remember I don’t have my cell phone and we’re thousands of feet in the air. “I didn’t sign with them,” I state again. Olivia gives me a sad look but doesn’t argue.

We land and head to our vehicles. After we get all the luggage put into our trunks, Killian comes over to me and says, “Listen, if going to LA is what’s best for your career…”

“I didn’t sign with them,” I say. “And if I had, I would’ve told you.”

He sighs but nods his head in acceptance. “Okay, let me know if you need anything.” We bump fists and take off in our own vehicles.

The entire drive to Olivia and Giselle’s place is done in silence. I don’t know what to say or do, and I know I need to first figure out what the hell happened before I attempt to say anything. When we arrive at their place, I help the women get all their luggage and Reed’s stuff inside. “I need to go speak to my dad,” I tell Olivia. “I’ll call you as soon as I know what’s going on.” She nods, and I give her a kiss. “I love you.” She nods again, and it doesn’t go unnoticed that she doesn’t say it back.

I get back to my place and grab my cell phone, powering it on. A million texts and missed calls come through. I ignore them all and call my agent.

“Son,” my dad says when he answers on the first ring.

“Don’t fucking ‘Son’ me,” I growl. “What the fuck did you do?”

“Why don’t we meet to discuss this in person?”

“Are you in town?” Because his cliental has increased in New York, he’s expanded his company here and has purchased some office space in the Financial District. He said he’s only planning to stay here long enough to make sure everything is in order, then he and my mom will be going back to North Carolina. That day can’t come soon enough.

“Yes, I’m at my office. They completed the renovations last week.”

Twenty minutes later, I’m standing in his office. “I didn’t sign a contract with Los Angeles” are the first words out of my mouth. My dad is sitting in his chair, typing away on his laptop. He takes his time before looking up at me.

“Actually, you did.” He pushes some paperwork at me, and I grab them off his desk. My eyes scan the documents. It’s a contract between LA and me, and sure enough, on several of the pages is my signature.

“What the fuck did you do?” I throw the papers back at him.

“I did what was in your best interest.”

“When the fuck did I sign these? You never said a word to me!” I boom.

“Right before your trip to Hawaii.”

My mind goes back to our brief visit before I left.

“Any news about New York?” I ask, sitting down on the couch with Reed in my arms. Olivia had a doctor’s appointment, so I offered to keep Reed with me so she could go by herself.

“That’s not why I’m here. I need your signature on a couple of papers…endorsement contracts and such. I’ll make it quick so you can get back to your son.” My dad hands me the documents as Reed starts squirming and getting fussy. He’s due to be fed, so he’s cranky. I grab the pen and flip through each page quickly, signing and initialing where the yellow arrow sticky notes point to sign.

Once I’m done, he snatches the papers off the coffee table. “Enjoy your trip. We’ll discuss your contract when you get back.”

“Holy shit, you had me sign a fucking contract with LA without my knowledge. You realize I’m going to fight you on this, right? And after I win, I’m going to destroy any credibility you have. Fuck, if I have to, I’ll go after your license.”

“Did you not read the contract? Five years, one hundred and sixty million dollars. As your agent, and your father, I did what was best for you. I wasn’t going to let you throw away your future for that woman!”