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 too

I smiled ruefully.

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.

too late to chase you

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

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

do look different now, physically but you're

his love. But now that he loves me and that I hold a huge piece of his heart, it's already too late for the both of us

to Dakota's baby. Stop saying things like this."

to

wedding is all for show. You know

accept the baby Nick even when it's not

know. Sometimes Dakota is too

I sigh heavily.

a familiar voice called out

I saw my husband's reaction when he caught me having lunch and holding hands with some other man. Damon stares at Nick and I remember at the wedding, they never personally met since Nick didn't go to the wedding reception

when Damon stared at our hands entwined. Damon

stand and moved closer to my

awkward silence between the three of us and

finally meet

"Pleasure's mine. I'm Damon Patricks. Savannah's

a lot of stuff about you Mr.

were you doing here hon?"

by your office and I heard you went out for lunch. I knew I'd find

were having some

be good." Damon says while the

asked about it and definitely didn't make a scene. I don't know if he's only hiding the fact that he's sensing something between me and Nick

and they were both planning on becoming business partners together. Think about it, my husband and the man that I still love

•••••

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 my face is getting

mostly it's some old classical songs and I listen to some Beethoven classical songs or some piano pieces on my way to work. I have been wearing flowy and silky

proud of Nick and how far he has come with his work. He achieved a

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 kisses and

asked in

drops his fork and wipes his cheek with the table

do

sighs. "Yes

"I can't."

Why can't you do that for

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

pay it. Just quit your

be away from Nick, but because of the great salary, Im also learning a lot of things

I sigh. "I don't want to

a resignation letter, we're moving to England. You don't need to work anymore, I have the

don't want to be

there and I'm going to

I don't wanna leave this place. I don't wanna be

time. I'll think about it."

lot of articles that's needed to be edited 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 wait for my husband to

for some mistakes, in case I missed a few. When I was done, I quickly stood up

getting blurry. I felt my

hate when I'm reading too

the doorway with a red paper bag on his hand and a box colored white and blue. He walks inside my office causally and I just stared at him, not expecting him to

I say in

still able to catch you around here." He

you were in

He starts walking to me

you." He hands the red

this?"

a boutique at France and