Page 8 of Big Nick Energy

“Life’s too short, Nick. Especially when it comes to your happiness. I was there when you and Noah’s mom found out you guys were expecting. I was by your side when you two tried to make something of it even though it wasn’t working, and I was there when you walked away. I know you.” He did.

“And?”

“I hate seeing you unhappy.”

“I’m not unhap?—"

“You are,” he cut me off. “We’re forty. How long do you think we got? Twenty, thirty years if we’re lucky? I know you. I know that this last year and a half, with the way you’ve been working, putting in crazy hours, you’ve been doing it to stay away from her. I wasn’t sure at first, but I am now. But the thing is, what’s the point if you’re going to work yourself into an early grave?”

“Win—"

“You won’t be doing anyone any favors doing that shit,” Win muttered. “You remember me asking you about fatherhood a couple weeks ago?”

“About being ready?”

“Yeah.” He nodded. “What did you tell me?”

“No matter what, you won’t ever be ready.” The words tumbled out easily, and I believed them. I was young when we had Noah. And even looking back and where I was now, if I wanted to have a kid now, I would still be as unprepared as when I’d been twenty. Even with a fatter wallet. “It’s just one of those things that either happen or you jump in to try and make happen and then roll with the punches having a family tosses at you.”

“Now look, I know I don’t have kids, but I have let myself fall in love a couple of times, so I can tell you there is never a right or wrong time. You just make do with your situation and hold on until you can’t.”

“Yeah, and that’s worked out fucking fantastic for you, hasn’t it?” I knew I sounded like an asshole. Win and Allie seemed happy, but I couldn’t deny there was something holding him back from fully claiming his girl.

“You’re right.” A guarded look fell over his face, and he sighed. “I should get going. Dinner was good.” He patted his flat stomach, but his heart wasn’t in it. I’d done or said the wrongthing, and it hadn’t been appreciated. “Allie and I broke up, by the way,” he shared, almost like he knew I was about to ask why she hadn’t come to Thanksgiving dinner. Before I could say a word, he quickly put a hand up and kept talking. “Sometimes, doing what we think is the right thing fucking sucks. I just wanted you to know that. And honestly…” He looked away.

To anyone else, it would have seemed like he was staring daggers at the wall, but I knew he was deep in thought. In that moment, he wasn’t simply a few feet but a world away in his head.

“Honestly, you and I? We’re idiots,” he muttered before his dark gaze met my blue one. “Don’t be a dumbass like me. Talk to her. Try and make something work, or else it’s going to be you and me when we’re old, and that’s fucking sad.” Without giving me a chance to ask what the hell had happened between him and his woman, he left. I sighed and slouched further into my chair.

“He’s right,” I muttered to myself.

My empty home office seemed to mock me, agreeing completely in its echoing silence. I needed to make a move. When it came to business, I never hesitated. When I’d played football in college, I’d learned overthinking made a world of difference and most of the time gave you a world of hurt.

Yet when it came to matters of the heart, maybe because I was such a damn novice at it, that was exactly what I’d done. Over a year of waiting. But I wasn’t going to keep my distance. That was done and over with. Not even if she had a man now would I be able to keep my hands to myself.

Blanca Dominguez had no idea what was coming. My mind ran a million miles an hour with ideas and plans. If it was up to me, by Christmas, if not by the new year, she would have my ring on her finger.

It was an insane thought.

Not only was our age difference wild, but we also hadn’t even been on a date. We hadn’t talked to one another in a year and a half. I would be rectifying that soon. Thinking about rings and forevers with her could get me committed. I’d been borderline stalking her, learning her schedule through the months and going to her work and joining the same gym she went to. All for just the chance to see her. To be around where she might possibly be and keep an eye on her to make sure she was safe. Even if it meant being far away from her.

It still didn’t help my situation, yet there was nothing that could convince me that this between Blanca and me wouldn’t head in the happily-ever-after direction.

Come tomorrow, everything would change.Fuck, why wait till tomorrow?a voice in my head perked up. Winston wasn’t wrong. Life was too short to sit and wait around.

When you knew what you wanted for the rest of your life, you didn’t just sit around and hope and pray shit fell into place. Life wasn’t like building a fucking puzzle. You had to make it happen. I knew that more than anyone. I was a force to be reckoned with at work and in my industry. Why was this any different?

With that thought, I picked up my phone and typed out a text.

Me: You were right. Life is too short. Hope you know that, too. Whatever happened with Allie, fix it.

I pressedSend,then stuffed my cell in my pocket and hurried out, knowing exactly where I was going.

4

Blanca

The scent of buttery popcorn permeated the air as if had been freshly popped instead of probably an hour ago. My lips tipped upward as I walked through and made sure to shut the lights. It was only me and two of the managers left. They were in the back getting the deposit ready to leave in the safe.

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