Love Aint Always Pretty

Pursuit

- the act of pursuing

Origin: Middle English

81

While I was busy grabbing all of my stuff to get myself some lunch, there was a sudden knock on my door.

"Hi." Nick greeted as he opens it wide.

I froze for about five seconds when our eyes met and then I recovered. I gaze at my watch and it was twelve five noon. I'm starving for some steak and he's making me starve if he stays longer inside my office. He walks inside while every employee behind him was looking right at us. He slowly closes the door behind him but I could still see heads peeping out.

"Hi." I cleared my throat.

He glanced at his gold wristwatch, "It's lunchtime. Wanna go grab something to eat together?" He asked.

I bite my lower lip. Together.

"Nick, your employees think something is going on between the two of us after what you did for me. It's better if we avoid each other." I say.

"Grab a pad and a pen, we'll make them think we're going for a lunch meeting."

I sigh. "Nick. Why are you doing this?"

I pulled up my hand to show him my wedding ring to show him that I'm married. "I'm married."

"You're married." I added.

He sighs.

"We can't be seen together and if your employees will tell your wife that they saw you entering my office and we went out for lunch together, I'll be fired." I continued.

"Did Dakota taunt you to stay away from me?" He asked.

Yes.

"She didn't. I just wanna make it clear to you that we can't do things that we used to do. For god's sake Nick, we're both married people." I answered.

I grabbed my purse.

"You're heading somewhere?" He asked.

"Lunch." I say firmly.

"Can't two good ol' friends have a peaceful lunch together?" He asked.

Jesus Christ Nick. Why are you making me lose my mind?!

"I'll meet you at Travioli. We can't be seen leaving together." I say.

He nods and smiles at me while he walks out of my office. I waited for a few minutes before I could leave and when I finally did stepped out of the building, I hailed a cab and went to Travioli. Damon didn't want me to drive my car because he doesn't want me to get into a car accident.

When I arrived at Travioli, I marched my way towards where Nick was sitting down. I sat right across him and noticed that he already ordered meals for us. Goodness, the steak looked delicious as hell. I don't know how he knows what I'm craving for today but at least he knows my favorite meals. It's been a very long time since we went out together like his, just the two of us.

"Eat up." He says.

I smiled.

We ate silently and the dishes he ordered were insanely good. The gravy was salivating on my tongue and the vegetable salad was to die for. I've noticed something about Nick, and he still doesn't talk or make eye contact when he eats. He's still the same old Nick I knew back in the day.

"You still don't talk." I blurted.

He slowly pulled his head up to me and wiped his cheek win the table napkin. "What does that mean?" He asked.

"You don't talk or make eye contact when you eat. I've noticed that since before." I say.

glanced at him, "You still do it

"You know me

I smiled ruefully.

adorable to me. I know this was the right time to tell him that he's probably the father to this child inside of me but something holds me back now that I've started a life with Damon. I bent my head down right away when he pulled his head up to me. All of sudden, Nick holds my hand. I

to chase you now, huh?" He

briefly but then he didn't release me when I attempted to pull back my

have changed Nick." I say. "I mean look at you, you

physically but

his love. But now that he loves me and that I hold a

married. You're about to become a father to Dakota's baby. Stop saying things like this." I

to my baby

sighs. "The wedding is all for show. You

to accept the baby

Sometimes Dakota is too much

I sigh heavily.

familiar voice

a nanosecond when I saw my husband's reaction when he caught me having lunch and holding hands with some other man.

at our hands entwined. Damon eyes me and

to my husband. "This is Mr. Nick Wilde.

was an awkward silence between the three of us and I hope it's not doom's day

to finally meet

mine. I'm

stuff about you Mr. Patricks."

doing here

heard you went out for

join us for lunch honey? We were having some meeting for... The convention...in

would be good." Damon says while the three

know if

talked about work related stuff and Nick asked Damon about how his company runs and they were both planning on becoming business partners together. Think about it, my husband and the man that I still love will have merging of business. Damon was cool. He's always the laid back type of person. He's

•••••

my tummy was already getting bigger. I always love staring myself in front of the mirror every morning and before I sleep, and seeing some of my body parts changing, from my flabby arms, my belly growing, my thighs expanding bigger as I sit down, my calves are getting big too and

classical songs or some piano pieces on my way to work. I

at France at the moment for some work related activities. I'm proud of Nick and how far he has come with his work. He achieved a lot of things and he did so many things. Even though it was an easy money since he married Mrs. Devaloines' one and only daughter,

I'm inside my office, I wonder if Nick knows I'm already three months pregnant since I always were baggy tops. Sometimes I wonder if I still cross his mind. Sometimes I wonder if he misses me when he doesn't see me. Sometimes I wonder if ever he sleeps with Dakota does he still see me. Sometimes I wonder if he misses my

asked

and wipes

can't do

sighs. "Yes you

"I can't."

you do that for

love this job and you know that. I can't just resign because you tell me

I'll pay it.

It's not that I don't want to quit my job because I don't want to be away from Nick,

sigh. "I don't

we're moving to England. You don't need to work anymore,

I don't want to

England weeks ago. My company is expanding there and I'm

don't wanna go. I don't wanna leave this

more time. I'll think

and as I do it, I can't help but think about Damon's offer. Us moving to England. I really don't wanna go. I don't wanna quit my job. I don't wanna be stuck inside the Josie for the res of my life and

mistakes, in case I missed a few. When I was done, I quickly stood up and grabbed my bag and my resignation

arms out and grunted when suddenly I felt my eyesight getting blurry. I felt my world spinning slow so

I'm reading too

a box colored white and blue. He walks inside my office causally and I just stared

say in

able to catch

Thought you were

here as soon as I can." He starts walking to me and handed me what he

He hands the red paper bag

is this?" I

dress in a boutique at France and