“My father’s been calling me for a while, trying to get me to come back. I’ve been ignoring his calls because he won’t take no for an answer. He threatened to fire Erica if she didn’t bring me back to Seattle to close this deal of his that’s worth millions of dollars to him.” Nick explained and put his drink down. He didn’t want it anymore, he just wanted her.
“Do you still keep in touch with her? I mean there has to be something there that would lead your father to believe that you would help her.” She hoped she didn’t come off accusingly, that wasn’t her intention. She genuinely wanted to know the answers, instead of guessing them like she had for so long.
“No, but she did try calling me too before she came to Riverdale. I ignored her calls to because I wanted nothing to do with anything associated with Seattle and my father.” He admitted before he let out a deep breath. “I was the one who got Erica the job at the firm. I know you don’t want to hear this and I don’t even want to say it, but you need to know the truth.” He swallowed and gathered his thoughts, trying to figure out the right way to tell her.
“Sam, when I came here I was a mess. I had left everything and everyone I loved behind. There was no one here. I was here three years, without a familiar face before Erica showed up. I was lonely and when I bumped into her… well, I took advantage of the situation. I latched onto the fact that she was familiar and she reminded me of back home.” He shrugged his shoulders. It was as simple as that, there were never any feelings there. “I never felt a thing for her other than comfort, but I am the reason she was hired, and she probably wouldn’t have stayed in Seattle if I hadn’t offered her the job. So I’ll close the deal, this one time, and she’ll be able to keep her job and if not, well then I tried helping her out.”
Sam was silent on her end, not sure what to say, because she wasn’t sure what she felt. Could she really blame him for reaching out to Erica? She shrugged, maybe not, but still the image of him and her hurt her every time she allowed herself to relive that heart wrenching moment.
“I was never expecting you to show up, Sam. Hell, I didn’t even think you still cared. Anytime I spoke to Luke he made it like you were off living the good life. And I was happy for you, so fucking happy for you, regardless if the good life didn’t include me.” He sighed. “If I had known otherwise, I wouldn’t have done what I did.”
“You don’t know that.” Sam said. “It was a long time ago. I was wrong to hold onto it and judge you for it. You didn’t owe me anything, and you still don’t really owe me an explanation, but thank you for giving me one.” She paused and then sighed. “I miss you.” She whispered and bit the inside of her cheek hoping she wouldn’t cry. “I’m sorry I ran out on you before we could talk.”
Nick hung his head in relief. “I miss you too baby.” He said hoarsely.
“I want to believe you that you’re coming back.” She said and he could tell her voice was cracking.
“Then believe me. I’ll be back on Saturday.” He said firmly and then he softened his tone a touch. “And Sam?”
“Yeah?” She asked and cleared her throat because her voice sounded as if a frog was caught in her throat.
“You came to me and told me I was the only constant in your life. Don’t forget that, because I haven’t. When I get home you and I will sit down and figure out this relationship of ours because I don’t want to be just a constant in your life. I’m, shooting more for the forever kind of thing.” He said huskily.
Sam’s heart fluttered at his words and she debated at that moment whether or not she should tell him about the baby. “Forever is a long time.” She said roughly and reached for the sonogram that she had already framed and put on her nightstand.
“Yeah, it is.” He whispered as he said the words he realized he had never been more sure of anything in his life. There was no one he wanted to spend forever with other than her. He wanted it all with her, and he didn’t want to wait anymore. “I want to make all your dreams come true, baby. You just have to share them with me, so I can.”
She closed her eyes and stopped herself from telling him he had already made her dreams come true. She decided not to tell him over the phone about the baby. “Nick?”
“Yeah?”
“Hurry home.” She whispered and set the framed photo back in its rightful spot. She would tell him in person when he came home, when he came home to her. She reached for the switch on her lamp and turned it off, settling into her bed, she pressed her phone to her ear.
“I’ll be home as soon as I can.” He promised. Knowing she was waiting for him was all the incentive in the world he needed. He let out a breath and glanced at his watch. “It’s late there. I forgot about the time difference. Get some rest and I’ll call you tomorrow.”