“I’m sorry for the things I said. I was just so hurt and shocked. I sat at that table while you made your presentation, planning our future in my head. I was going to ask you to move in with me, and eventually ask you to marry me. And then I find out you’re planning to leave me for three years, and I lost it. I panicked and had flashbacks to the last time I’d made plans like that. I’m so sorry, baby. Please forgive me. Please,” I sobbed into his neck. My tears ran unchecked down my face and onto his skin.
Nick shifted in my arms to face me. He was as wrecked as I was. His beautiful blue eyes were red, and it was obvious neither of us had been sleeping worth a damn.
Nick let out a rough sigh. He looked around at Alejandro’s office and frowned.
“How long have you been here?”
I licked my lips and looked into his eyes. “Three days. Ever since I sent the text. I didn’t know you were still in San Diego until Evan called me.”
Nick’s brows shot up. “He called you?”
“Yes. He called to point out what a fucking idiot I was. And that if I didn’t want you, he certainly did. He said he’d give me a week to make up my mind and if I didn’t make this right with you, he was coming up here to help you move into his house the way it should have been from the beginning. For good.”
Nick scoffed and shook his head. “So that’s why you did this. Because you didn’t want to lose me to Evan.”
“No! That’s not it at all. I did this because I love you and I can’t stand being away from you for another minute. I love you so much it hurts. I’ve been a fucking mess for ten days. Stella even threw me out of my own kitchen. I don’t want any of this if I can’t have it with you. And I know I behaved badly, but I swear it won’t happen again. Being without you all this time has been a punishment worse than death.”
“You’re an idiot. And a dramatic one at that.” His gaze still hadn’t left mine. I watched as his blue eyes began to swirl, giving me hope. But I had to act fast.
“I’m so sorry, baby. I was wrong to jump to conclusions. Please, please forgive me. I’ll do anything. I know I don’t deserve it, but I’ll do whatever you need me to.”
Nick sighed and dropped his head to my chest. I wrapped my arms around him and held on tight. He sighed heavily again, then gave up before he finally relaxed on my chest. Right where he belonged.
“Fine,” he sighed. “I’ll forgive you for all of that if you forgive me for not telling you. I won’t make that mistake again.”
“Deal,” I said, looking into his eyes. “I love you. Please come home with me and let me make this up to you.”
I saw the light in his eyes return, and he nodded. “Okay. But I need to get my stuff.”
I looked at the floor. “That’s not really your stuff. That’s just shit out of my closet.”
Nick laughed. “You are really messed up.”
I smiled. “I am. And you’re the only hope I have of getting me right.”
Ale-asshole looked into his office to find Nick was in my arms. I grinned. “See asshole. Told you it would work.”
He rolled his eyes all the way around in his head and pulled the door shut. “You two are something.”
Yeah, we were. And I intended to earn his forgiveness and to prove to the love of my life that we could do this forever.
CHAPTER33
NICK
An hour later,we were parked on his sofa with a pizza and a bottle of wine. I could tell he had something on his mind, and I could almost guess what it was.
Even though we’d forgiven each other for the mistakes we’d made, we still hadn’t settled anything about my internship. And if I had to guess, that was weighing heavily on his mind, because it was killing me.
When he stared at the TV unseeing after we’d finished eating, I knew it was time to hear him out. Shifting on the sofa, I opened the can of worms I wasn’t sure I would know how to close.
“What are you thinking about?” I murmured.
He gave me a half smile and put his hand on my leg. “A lot of things.”
I covered his hand with mine and waited for Preston to say what was on his mind. Usually he told me straight out. But not this time, and it had me concerned.
“Like what?” My pulse had picked up anticipating what he might say.
