Page 12 of Leave Me Not: Nick & Elissa #2 (Badger Creek Duet #8)

12

ELISSA

N ick’s question is one I didn’t even hesitate to answer. I said yes without a second passing between us, and I would do it all over again. There’s nothing I’ve wanted more than to marry Nick and for us to live happily ever after, sounding exactly like something Sammie would say. Honestly, I would have said yes if he had asked me five years ago, even if we were only just eighteen. I’ve known Nick is it for me from the day we met all those years ago, long before I even knew what it felt like to be in love, I loved Nick.

“I can’t believe I know exactly when I got pregnant,” I say, as we’re driving over to Max’s parents’ house to meet with Jeff and the lawyer.

“It’s really funny how it ended up being that first day I was back,” Nick replies, reaching over to take my hand. “Guess we were a lot more careful when we were teenagers than we are as adults.” He lets out a chuckle, thrilled with himself by how active we’ve been since his return.

“I guess having strep throat led to all of this. Without it, my pill would have worked and we wouldn’t be having this conversation,” I say, laughing. “Turns out, I didn’t even think about it when you and I hooked up that first day you were back. That’s the day we conceived our baby.”

“I’m glad you blew off that doctor,” Nick tells me, smiling. “I’m glad it happened this way.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really. Neither one of us would have said we were ready to be parents, and it happening this way has put so much into perspective for me,” Nick starts, giving my hand a squeeze. “It’s made me realize that I don’t ever want to lose you again. You are my life, Lis and now the baby is too.”

The tears well up in my eyes, loving that we finally found our way back to each other. I have to agree with him that I wouldn’t have said we should have a baby so soon, but it happening this way is better than I could have imagined.

“I’ve loved you for as long as I can remember, and I won’t lose you again either,” I tell him, giving a little swipe at the tear that spills over. “I can’t remember a time that I was this happy.”

“Me either,” Nick responds. “Now if we can just get this contract bullshit out of the way, then we’ll be all set.”

“I’m not sure I would say we’ll be all set, but at least you won’t have to leave. There’s still that whole finding you a job thing,” I say, but I know that won’t be too hard around here. Even if he does have to teach lessons or go back to being part of the ski patrol crew at Badger Creek, we’ll get by.

“Yes, yes, I know, but the contract is our biggest obstacle right now,” Nick says, pulling up to the gate for Max’s parents’ community.

The man slides open the window, absentmindedly asking us who we are here to see and when Nick says the Holdens, the man looks up. He’s an older man and I recognize him as someone who has worked here for a while. He was here when Nick and I were kids and coming to the Holdens’ house to hang out with Max.

“Oh my god, is that Nick O’Connor?” the man questions, a huge beaming grin on his face. “I can’t believe you’re back here.”

“Yep, I’m back,” Nick says, but I can hear the awkwardness in his tone, and I shake my head. I know he’s still embarrassed that he’s back here after his injury, worried he’s let people down who were supporting him on his Olympic journey.

“How’s the jumping going? I’ve been following you since you left, telling people to watch out for your name and that I knew you when you were just a kid.”

“It’s going,” Nick says, letting out a long sigh. “I got injured so I’m working on rehab right now.” The admittance is a hard one for him, but I can tell he’s coming to terms with it all, and that’s good.

“Oh, yeah, saw that. Glad you’re back in town, good luck with that rehab. I’ll be watching out for you at the upcoming Olympics,” the guy says, and Nick smiles, thanking him as we drive through the now open gate.

A few seconds pass, Nick letting out a few more deep sighs, and I know he’s struggling with being Badger Creek’s golden boy.

“It’s okay, you know?” I tell him, not needing to elaborate on it. “You aren’t letting anyone down who matters.”

“Yeah, I know,” Nick replies, but his words are quiet and lost. He does feel like he’s letting people down, but he needs to get over that. He never went into ski jumping so he could become famous. He went into it so he could do what he loves.

“But do you?”

He turns to look at me, pulling up to the gate that closes off Max’s parents’ driveway to the road, he punches in the code. “No,” he answers, laughing a little. “I’ll get there, Lis. I need to focus on what’s important and that’s you and the baby, and this damn contract.”

“Sounds good.”

We park the car and head up to the house, Jeff opening the front door before we can even ring the bell. “So good to see both of you,” he says, shaking hands with Nick and giving me a hug. “I hear a congratulations are in order too.”

“Yep,” I say, smiling. “Harper and I are due just a few weeks apart, based on the calculator I used online, but who knows if that’s accurate.” I let out a small laugh, wondering if it really is correct. “It’s going to be babies all over Badger Creek.”

“Come on in,” Jeff says, flagging us in and walking toward the kitchen. “Let’s see if we can get this contract issue taken care of and get you back here.”

“Sounds good,” Nick replies, as we both find the lawyer at the kitchen table, some papers spread out in front of him.

“Nick and Elissa, this is Gerry Giancola, the Holden lawyer, and one of the best,” Jeff says, introducing us.

“This family keeps me quite busy,” Gerry jokes. “It’s nice to meet both of you, now let’s get to this contract.”

“Is there anything you can do?” I immediately ask, still so damn worried about the money situation. Nick and I can’t possibly ever pay back what is owed if he breaks his contract.

“So here’s the deal,” Gerry starts and it already doesn’t sound good. “I’m going to recommend you go back to the team, only because if you don’t, you’re in breach of your contract and then we can’t move forward with anything. It’s cut and dry. You don’t go back, you break the contract.”

“Okay,” Nick says, nodding a little, but this is not what either of us wants to hear.

“But there are few things we can do once you’re back. We want to push them to be the one to breach the contract, and there are some ways that will happen. Your injury being one of them. Requesting you to return before your treating physician releases you is a big deal, but unfortunately they have a clause regarding that. The team doctor is the one who makes the final decision about your return,” Gerry says, and that feels like bullshit.

“Yeah, I saw that too,” Nick says. “It’s not cool.”

“It’s not, but there’s nothing we can do about that. So return to training and give me a few days to really comb through this. I have a buddy who does contract law, so I’m going to sit down with him and see what he can do.”

“I wish I would have never signed the contract,” Nick mutters, and I shake my head, annoyed at his comment. Hindsight is always twenty-twenty and that’s the way he’s feeling right now.

“How were you supposed to know you were going to get hurt? They dangled more money than you’ve ever seen in front of you, and you took it. Any of us would have,” I say, looking at Jeff and he nods in agreement.

“Don’t worry, Nick,” Jeff says. “We’ll get this taken care of. You never have to worry about your contract and your sponsorship with Holden. You’re family to us and we take care of family.”

Nick and I thank Gerry and Jeff for their time, and head back to the car. It’s not the outcome we wanted, but we both understand that it won’t be that simple. The team wants Nick there because he can make them a ton of money. Not just from his jumping but from all the sponsorships and advertising and everything that comes with being an Olympic athlete. It is what it is, and we have to deal with that.

“That’s not what I was hoping for,” Nick says, when we get in the car and the doors close. “I really wanted him to find some loophole and I was just going to get to be here with you and the baby.”

“I know, but that’s not realistic, Nick. Just do what Gerry says so that nothing can come back on you. Let him do what he can, and you’ll be back here soon.”

“You realize I have to leave on New Year’s Day, right?” Nick asks, and I nod. It’s been a date that I don’t even want to think about. It’s the date when most people start new, but we’ll be starting over with both of us in different places. Me here at Badger Creek and Nick in Park City.

“Yeah, so I guess we should spend New Year’s Eve together then,” I say, smiling, almost like a joke because we would have spent it together anyway.

“What? Did you plan to spend it with someone else? Who did you plan on kissing, Elissa Green?” Nick teases.

“Just you.”

“Got anything going on for the rest of the day?” Nick asks, knowing I took the day off to be with him for the contract meeting. Neither of us were sure how long it would take, but we should have known it wouldn’t take all day.

“Nope, nothing. How about you?” I ask as Nick turns onto a street that leads away from his parents’ house. “Where are we going?” I now ask, looking over at Nick, a huge smile on his face.

“I have some plans,” he replies, coyly. “Are you down for a little surprise, Lis?”

“I guess that depends on what kind of surprise it is,” I tell him, wondering what he’s up to. He made no mention of doing anything after our meeting, so if he was trying to keep it a secret, he did a great job.

“I did a little research, and did you know that in the state of California, we can get married the same day? No need to go to Vegas,” Nick tells me, taking my hand in his, he runs his finger over the ring I’m wearing.

“Nicholas, are you suggesting we get married today?” I ask him, narrowing my eyes, but loving the idea.

“I am. I stopped by your house last week and got your birth certificate and asked your mom permission. She said yes, by the way.”

“Oh, you really thought ahead. So are we keeping this a secret like we did when we first got back together? Obviously, my mom knows. How about your parents? And our friends?”

Nick laughs, pulling into the courthouse parking lot. It’s filled with cars, and I can’t imagine we can just walk up and ask to be married and they’ll do it, but I’m down for it.

“No secrets. Just a quickie wedding and then we do the whole party thing with all our family and friends when I’m back and out of this fucking contract,” Nick says, planning it all out in his head.

“Did you tell your parents and your brother and sister that you were planning to propose to me?”

“I did, Lis, so don’t make me look like a fool and say no,” Nick jokes. He leans over, his hand slipping around to the back of my neck, he pulls me to him. His lips connect with mine in a soft, sweet kiss. “What do you say, babe? Marry me today?”

“Like a fresh start to the new year?” I question. “Starting over.” He leaves on the first so it feels fitting, and then we can celebrate New Year’s Eve with our friends as a married couple, letting them all know and telling them we plan to have an actual wedding later.

“I’m not sure I’d say starting over, but more like starting again,” Nick clarifies, the smile on his face is so big that I wouldn’t dare say no. I want this too. It’s perfect.

“I love that, and I love you,” I reply, kissing him again.

“So is that a yes?” Nick pulls back, his brown eyes shining as he waits for my response. I’ve dreamed about this day since I was fifteen and here it is.

“Absolutely.”

I take in a deep breath. We have one day before New Year’s Eve and then he leaves the next day. I can’t think of a more perfect way to spend our last days together. Getting married and then being with our friends is exactly how I want this to be.

“Then let’s do this, Elissa Green,” Nick says, hopping out of the car. He rushes over to open the door for me, which only makes me laugh.

“Please tell me you aren’t going to be the guy who opens my car door for me now,” I tease, and he stops, resting his hand on my stomach.

“Just today,” he replies, laughing. “I love that our baby is at our wedding. Not a lot of people can say that.”

“Could you be any cheesier?” I tease, pushing up on my toes to kiss him.

“Alright, my soon-to-be-wife, let’s go get married.”