“Your phone did not stop ringing all night. I doubt he and the hussy had the reunion you concocted in your head.” Phillip said with his patience running thin.
Sam looked up at him. Maybe he was right. Maybe she should give Nick a chance to explain what was going on. He did look surprised that Erica had shown up and even mad that she had. After they cleared this mess up, she would tell him about the baby. She took a deep breath, her nerves getting the best of her. She could only hope Nick would embrace this unplanned pregnancy like she had.
“Regardless of what’s going on you have to tell him. He’s not going to think you’re trying to trap him. Did he make an effort to use protection?” Mallory intervened.
Sam shook her head. They both equally had been irresponsible in that department. A flash of a memory of Nick sharing a pizza with Ava, took over her mind replacing every other thought. She stood up abruptly. “I have to go to him.”
Phillip looked up the heavens. “Hallelujah!”
Sam hurried around the apartment collecting her belongings. “I have to at least hear him out. I owe him that much.” She grabbed her pocketbook. “We’re going to have a baby together. It just became bigger than him and I.”
She stood on her tip toes and pressed a fleeting kiss on Phillip’s cheek. “Thank you for helping me to see the light.” She moved towards Mallory and hugged her tight.
“Go get him, champ!” Mallory exclaimed, and pumped her fist in the air, watching as Sam headed out the door.
Once the door closed Mallory turned to Phillip. “What do you think?”
“I think I’m going to bed and if this shit, don’t work out, it’s your turn to pull the all-nighter.” Phillip declared as he grabbed his throbbing head and headed towards his bedroom.
Erica stared at Nick from her seat beside him in the back of the yellow cab that was taking them to the airport. He stared out the window as the taxi slowed, in front of Sam’s apartment. He turned around and acknowledged Erica for the first time since he set foot into the cab.
“I’ll be just a few minutes.” He said flatly and didn’t wait for her response. He jumped out of the cab as quickly as possible, taking long strides down the walkway to her door. He leaned his forehead against the door and silently prayed she was home. He didn’t want to leave without seeing her face, without telling her he’d be back himself. He brought his hand up and knocked on the door.
He knew she would assume the worst. He needed to be the one to explain the reason he was going was to put Seattle behind them. He didn’t want anything to interfere with the life he was building in Riverdale, the life he wanted to share with her.
He knocked again, this time a little harder. He glanced back at the street and didn’t see her car anywhere. He rubbed his face tiredly and defeated. Nick lingered for a moment, not ready to walk away, but there was nothing he could do, she wasn’t home. He debated sitting in front of her door and waiting until she came home, but he remembered the flight he had to catch.
Reluctantly, he walked back towards the cab and stopped at the curb, turning his head from side to side hoping to spot Sam driving down the street. There wasn’t a car in sight other than the yellow one waiting for him. He climbed into the cab and leaned his head back against the head rest. He closed his eyes and clenched his fists, feeling helpless much like he did seven years ago when he left this town.
The taxi peeled away from the curb and Nick stared out the window, watching the streets fade away and feeling as if everything he cared about was fading along with them. He reached into his pocket for his phone and tried calling Sam once more. Like all the times before, it went straight to voicemail. He sighed, there was nothing left than for him to put his faith in Luke. He hoped Luke would make her realize he wasn’t leaving her behind again.
“I really appreciate this.” Erica said beside him.
He glanced over at her and nodded shortly. The cab pulled onto the highway and Nick eyes wandered to the familiar sign that haunted his thoughts years ago that read,
“You are now leaving Riverdale. Come back soon.”
Sam pulled into the parking lot of Rudy’s. She found a spot close to the side of the building where the staircase was that lead to Nick’s apartment. She hurried to get out of the car, hoping she wouldn’t lose her nerve. She grabbed the iron banister and started to climb the steps when she heard her name being called.
She stopped in her tracks and turned around and spotted Luke making his way through the parking lot. His face was solemn as he closed the distance between them.
“Where are you going?” He asked softly.
“I have to talk to Nick.” She said and went to turn around to climb the stairs again.
“Sam, you can’t.” Luke said, and then sighed. He knew his sister and knew that what Nick asked of him would be damn near impossible. What was it with everyone asking him to look out for their girls? He wasn’t exactly the poster child for keeping one around.