She flinched. “I don’t want to hear about all your other girls.”
“Fine. You’re right. They don’t matter. You’re the only girl who matters. You’ll always be the only girl who matters to me. But I guess I fucked it up too much to make it work. So I’m outta here.”
He fled her bedroom, and she scrambled out, following right behind him, still clutching the sheet to her naked body. “So this is how it’s going to end?” Why did she just ask that? And why did she want him to stay? He used her. Everything he said she couldn’t take at face value. He was a liar.
He was in love with you. He probably still is. And you’re in love with him.
She stopped short, her lips parted, the words dying to fall from her tongue. But she clamped her mouth shut before she could say them and make a fool of herself.
“Yep.” He wouldn’t even look at her. Just headed straight toward her door with all the determination of a pissed off bull looking again for that flash of red. “Just know that I’m not the only one behind our first breakup. Remember that.”
Her heart twisted. She could hardly wrap her head around the idea of her father telling Nick to leave her alone. Was it the truth? It had to be. Nick wouldn’t lie to her about something like that. “What about our remaining dates?” she called to him, wishing he would look at her. “We still have three to go.”
“Consider them canceled.” He reached for the door handle and paused, his back still to her, his shoulders hunched.
She had the sudden urge to run to him, to cling to his body and quietly beg him not to leave. Plead with him to come back to bed so they could snuggle. Hell, she even wanted to…apologize. And she rarely apologized.
What would she do without him? Just that quick, he’d wormed his way into her life—and heart—and now just as quick, he was leaving her?
Typical.
“Then go,” she whispered. “Leave, like you’re so good at. I dealt with your abandonment before. I can deal again.”
“That’s not fair.” His voice was ragged as he tipped his head down, hitting the door with a soft thump.
“I never said I played fair. You never did either.” She closed her eyes, trying to stop the tears that threatened, but it was no use. One slipped down her cheek, not that he would ever see it. He wouldn’t even look at her. “Just go,” she whispered.
And he did.
…
“So what happened? Did you convince Willow to go back home with you for Christmas?” Harvey asked hopefully.
They’d just come in from a particularly brutal practice. The last thing Nick wanted was to talk to the overeager publicist. “Aren’t I Aubrey’s responsibility now?”
Harvey flashed him a smile. “She’s handling an interview for Foley at the moment. Besides, this was our deal, right? So tell me. What’s going on?”
“Nothing. Absolutely nothing’s going on.” Nick headed into the locker room, Harvey trailing after him. “She’s not going with me, Harv, so quit following my ass.”
“She’s not going with you? Are you serious?” Harvey asked incredulously. “Damn it, I just sent out a press release about your relationship.”
Of course he did. “Don’t I sound serious enough for you?”
Harvey stopped short when Nick turned on him. “What happened? Did she say no?”
“We split up,” Nick answered grimly. Hell, he didn’t know what else to say. How can two people who were never really together break apart? He still couldn’t believe he’d confessed everything, come clean with her, and she still pretty much tossed him out on his ass.
Well, he could believe it. He looked like a jerk for what he did. But his blackmail scheme had quickly turned into something else. Something real. Brought all of those old dormant feelings he had for Willow roaring back to the surface.
He was in love with her. And she hated him. Still blamed him for their split, even though her father had played a heavy hand in their demise.
That hurt. And pissed him off. Though really the only person he could be angry at was himself.
“Now I have to rescind that press release. Hell.” Harvey ran a hand through his hair though not a strand fell out of place. “Well, that’s a damn shame but seriously? She was never the one for you. Too bossy, too tough. You were a miserable son of a bitch the entire time you were with her.”
Nick wanted to plow his fist into Price’s smug face. Christ, he was an asshole. “How do you even know how long I was with her? Never mind, it doesn’t matter.”
“Take Aubrey. She’s more than willing to go, I’m sure.”
“I am not taking that sweet girl to go meet my parents under false pretenses. Hell no.” Nick shook his head.
“Listen.” Harvey glanced around, making sure no one was paying them any attention, and no one was. Players tended to scatter when Harvey was in the locker room. “I think the two of you would make a fabulous, for real couple. Give her a chance.”
Nick scrubbed a hand across his jaw, suddenly weary with all the bullshit. Beyond weary. More like completely intolerant. “Did Aubrey put you up to this? Is she crushin’ on me or something?”
“Of course not.”
“Then stop. Just stop with the matchmaking or whatever the hell you want to call it. Makes no damn sense, Harvey. You get Jared and Sheridan hooked up and now you think we all need someone by our side? I don’t get it.”
“I think she’s sweet and funny and would tolerate your ass. Much easier than Willow Cavanaugh,” Harvey sneered.
“Say one more bad thing about her and I’ll knock you on your ass,” Nick threatened, his voice tight.
“Whoa, sorry there, tiger. Didn’t realize you still had a thing for her.” Harvey shook his head.
“It’s only been a few days, asshole. Of course I still have a thing for her.” He blinked. Hard. Damn, he would always have a thing for her.
Why did it take him this long to realize it?
“But why?” When Nick cocked his hand back, ready to sock Harvey in the mouth, the publicist threw his hands up in front of him. “I’m only asking because the entire time you two were secretly together, you were a grump. The fans were concerned. They missed their happy-go-lucky Nick.”
Letting his arm fall to his side, he thought about what Harvey said. He’d been a grump because at first, the sexual frustration was getting to him. Then, Willow herself started getting to him. Until finally, he flat out missed her when he didn’t have her around.
Damn it, he wanted what Jared and Sheridan had. He wanted Willow at the games, giving him a good luck kiss before he ran out to the field, cheering him on. He wanted her tough as nails and full of sass, or soft and sweet and sexy as hell in his bed. More than anything, he wanted her to trust him that he’d never screw it up.
“You know what’ll make me happy?”
Harvey’s eyes lit up. Nick would bet a million dollars he thought he had the answer. “What?”
“Having Willow by my side, as a permanent part of my life. That’s the only thing that would make me truly happy,” Nick said grimly.
“Not even a potential Super Bowl win could cheer you up? I have a feeling we’re going all the way. It’s looking good so far.”
Speculation was high and they still had two playoff games to go. Nick believed deep in his heart it could happen, too, but he refused to even talk about the possibility for fear of jinxing them. He was superstitious as hell. They all were. “There’s a lot of time between now and the freaking Super Bowl, Price. So stop talking like that.” Shaking his head, he turned away from Harvey, dismissing him without a word.
After he changed he fled the locker room, acknowledging no one, not even Jared. He wasn’t in the mood to talk. He wasn’t in the mood for anything but Willow and since that wasn’t going to happen any time soon, he was headed home. To the shitty condo he owned nearby with the lacking furniture, the blank walls, and the giant TV. He’d watch some SportsCenter and go to bed because…yeah.
That’s all he had
now. And wasn’t that pitiful as shit?
“Hey Nick, can I talk to you?” called a voice from behind him as he headed out to the parking lot.
Nick inwardly groaned. He’d recognize that voice anywhere. “Not now, Foley. I’m in a hurry.”
Flynn jogged over so he walked beside him. “Ah, come on. It’ll only take a minute. It’s just one question.”
Nick stopped, turning so he faced Foley. Might as well get this over with. “Shoot.”
“Well, I’ve overheard some talk coming from the publicity camp. What’s this about you and Aubrey?” Flynn lifted an expectant brow, his gaze intent as he waited for Nick to answer.
Nick frowned. “What about me and Aubrey?”
“Are you two seeing each other?” Foley didn’t move so much as a muscle. In fact, he held Nick’s stare, looking downright territorial.
Interesting.
“What if we were?” Nick contemplated Flynn. He was a good-looking kid. Sorta shy with the women, which of course, the women loved. He was fast gaining a legion of female fans. Word on the street was that he was a freaking virgin and the women ate that up with a spoon.
The idea of de-virginizing the virgin stud football player got a lot of women hot, apparently.
Flynn clearly wasn’t amused. “Well, are you or aren’t you seeing her? It’s a simple question.”
Nick wanted to laugh. Flynn Foley was clearly irritated with the idea that he and Aubrey could be seeing each other. Was Flynn hot for the new publicist? He never seemed hot for any woman. “We’re not seeing each other.”
A smile flickered on Flynn’s face. “Really?”
“Really. That’s just Harvey talking out his ass.” Nick shoved at Flynn’s shoulder. “You like her?”
“I, uh…”
“Tell me the truth. You like her?”
Flynn shrugged, his cheeks ruddy, looking mighty pleased as he smiled. Was the dude blushing? Jesus. He needed lessons and stat. “Maybe.”
“Well, don’t ever give her that wishy washy shit, playing like you like her then acting like she doesn’t matter. Women hate it. Learn from my mistakes, man. You like a woman, go after her. Tell her how you feel, and don’t get all scared when it turns serious. Got it?”
“Sure. Yeah. Thanks Nick.” Flynn nodded, breaking out into a smile. “I appreciate the advice.”
“Anytime,” Nick said, meaning it.
Of course, if Foley were smart, he wouldn’t take Nick’s advice. He didn’t get the girl, no matter how hard he tried.
He was an absolute failure in the love department. But for once, he wanted to succeed. He wanted to win the ultimate prize.
His girl. Willow.
Chapter Fourteen
The phone rang and rang, ending with her father’s rich voice instructing her to leave a message. Scowling, Willow disconnected then hit redial and let it ring again. What do you know, voice mail time. She called again, determined to get through to him. She’d been stewing over Nick’s revelation for days. She needed an explanation.
Finally, finally he answered.
“Are you all right?” her father greeted her breathlessly. She would bet anything he’d been out on the ski slopes, having the best time ever while she wallowed in her misery, so angry with the men in her life she could hardly see straight. “What’s going on?”
He also sounded frantic. Upset. Good. She felt the same way. “I need to know something.”
“What?” Now he just sounded confused.
She glanced around her bedroom from where she sat in the middle of the bed. The scene of the crime, so to speak. It had been a few days since Nick had been there. Since she last saw him, talked to him, felt him move over her, within her…
God, she missed him. Not that she’d ever give in and call him.
Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath and let it all out. “Did you really tell Nick Hamilton to stop seeing me years ago?”
Dead silence greeted her.
“You did, didn’t you.” She didn’t ask it as a question. There was no need. His answer was in his non-answer.
“Willow, you were nineteen years old with stars in your eyes. The very last thing I wanted was you getting involved with some egotistical football player who would cheat on you and make you miserable. Take you away from the only home you ever knew, force you to travel around and watch all of those crazed groupies try to jump him. I knew you would hate it.” He let out a harsh breath. “I was trying to protect you.”
“Protect me? You didn’t even talk to me about it. Just went behind my back and told him to stay away from me,” she accused.
“You didn’t tell me about your little relationship with Nick either, you know. One of my clients saw you out with him and said some Hawks football player was slobbering all over my young daughter.” His voice actually shook, he sounded so upset. “I was livid. You snuck around with him all summer and never told me. Not once. Out with some stupid, womanizing football player who would’ve broken your heart in two if given the chance. I had to do something,” he said, his voice rising.
Closing her eyes, she fell back onto the bed. She so didn’t want to be having this confrontation. It all happened years ago and though she still wished he’d talked to her first, she knew she should be thanking her father for at least trying to protect her. She and Nick probably wouldn’t have worked out anyway. Something would’ve happened and their relationship would’ve blown up into a complete mess.
But what if…it had worked out? They could be married with babies by now.
Why did the idea of having Nick’s babies make her heart flutter? This was ridiculous.
“I know you were trying to protect me,” she said softly. “And I know I was young. The way you went about it was wrong, though, Dad. You used intimidation tactics and lawyer-speak and got him so flustered, he bailed on me. The things he said when he broke it off…I thought I would die, he was so mean.” He’d acted like he didn’t care. She’d been so confused.
“I never told him to be mean, Willow. I asked that he end it with you and quick. That’s all,” her dad said. “And how did you find out about this now?”
“He’s resented what you did to him for years.” She paused, thinking of all the time that passed, the opportunities lost. It was almost too painful to linger over so she pushed it aside. It was easier that way. “I’ve been seeing him again, Daddy. He told me what happened.”
“He told you? Why are you seeing him again?”
She couldn’t confess the truth, how it all went down. No way, no how. Her dad would hit the roof if he knew Nick blackmailed her into dating him so she could get the building for her business. Talk about unethical. Her father the attorney would have a coronary. “I like him, Dad. I think I might even be…in love with him.” Great. So her dad was the first person she told that she might be in love with Nick. So not the way she wanted to do this.
No answer from her father either, which made her uneasy. Fidgety. Her leg wouldn’t stop moving, her knee bouncing up and down—a nervous habit she’d had when she was a kid.
Looked like she still had it.
“He admitted to me everything that happened between you. He was just trying to be honest with me. He didn’t want any secrets between us and I…I still got mad at him.” A tear streaked down her cheek and she swiped at it angrily. Since when did she cry over a man? It hadn’t happened since…the last time she was with Nick. Great. “I couldn’t stand the idea of the two of you conspiring behind my back and deciding what was best for me. I was a grown woman and you handled my life like I was still a little kid.”
“You were all of nineteen, Willow, and hardly out of high school. He was two years older, charming, and good looking. I couldn’t stand the thought of my only child being at the mercy of a man who would eventually leave her. So I made it happen earlier rather than later.”
“Great, so you think you did me a favor,” she said.
“I did! You should be thanking me. I saved you from months, if
not years of constant heartache.”
Since when had her life turned into such a soap opera? Nothing but drama and secrets and lies. Blackmail and hot sex. Tender moments and sex in public and sweet, drugging kisses from a man she was desperately, madly in love with.
And she let him walk away. Walk out of her life because she was angry and had her pride.
Stupid, useless pride.
“Believe what you need to believe,” Willow murmured. “It’s probably easier to think that way.”
“Wait, what do you mean?” he started to ask but she hung up on him, tired of arguing.
Tired of talking about it.
…
“We’re losing.”
Nick took a swig of water, glaring at Jared. “No shit, Sherlock.”
Jared glanced around the locker room, taking in all the sad and defeated faces, no doubt. They were losing by a large margin—two touchdowns and a field goal—and it was killing every single one of them. Especially since it was against a team they’d already beat once earlier in the season. Demolished them, more like.
It was as if the other team was out for vengeance. Probably were. They had a fire in their bellies that couldn’t be contained and unfortunately, no one on the Hawks was feeling the same fire. Except for Nick. He was on fire, angry that the woman he was in love with didn’t feel the same.
“You’re on top of your game, though,” Jared noted, pulling Nick from his thoughts.
“Yeah, well, wish everyone else would cooperate.” Coach Walsh had just finished giving them a speech to end all speeches, trying to get across just how badly they needed this win.
The end of their playoff run was looming, creating a tense atmosphere that caused everyone to feel the pressure, including Nick, who’d spent the first half of the game playing like a crazed mother fucker.
All for nothing.
“I have a plan.” Jared studied him intently, his gaze dark, his jaw tight. “But I need your cooperation.”
Well, well. Nick was certainly intrigued. Anything to get his mind off of his fucked-up love life, if he could even call what he had with Willow a love life. A sex life, oh yeah. But he wanted more.
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