Page 31 of Big Nick Energy

“Before we leave, we’ll swing by and see what you have,” Nick told her. “We gotta get something to commemorate the moment.” He looked over at me and winked.

She turned to me. “You have a keeper on your hands.”

I nodded in agreement. “I see.”

She walked away, leaving us alone.

“You’re a keeper.” I grabbed my bottle of water and took a sip. “But the real question is, do you want to be kept?”

“Do I want to be kept?” Nick let out a deep chuckle before he popped a cheese cube into his mouth. After swallowing, he answered. “Yeah, I do.”

I gave him a quizzical look. “What was so funny then?”

He laughed again. “I’ve just never had someone ask me that before.”

“It’s an important question. Sometimes people don’t want to be kept. Sometimes people don’t want to be saved. You don’t know if you don’t ask.”

“You’re absolutely right,” he agreed, his amusement evident. “I just never in my life had someone ask that. But you’re right.”

I nodded knowingly. “I’ve been there before. Trying to keep someone who isn’t trying to be kept. That’s why you have to ask.”

“I’ve been there, too,” he admitted. “I think we’ve all been there.”

“Was that what happened in your last relationship?”

“Yeah, something like that.”

“How long were y’all together? And was it serious?”

“Three and a half years. We were serious, but…”

Intrigued, I leaned forward. “What happened? If you don’t mind me asking.”

“No, it’s cool. We were together for three and a half years, the last year we were engaged. We ended about a year ago.”

We sat in silence for a moment as I took in the information.

“Why did it end?” I asked quietly.

I didn’t want to come across as nosey, but I genuinely wanted to know.

He appeared contemplative. “We weren’t on the same page. Truth be told, I don’t know if we ever really were. We were long distance, and our work kept us busy so when we saw each other, it was always a good time. But after we got engaged and we started looking at what life would look like for us as a couple, I realized we were moving in two different directions. We wanted different things.”

He didn’t look sad. He looked introspective.

“I’m sorry.” I didn’t know what else to say.

He shook his head. “Don’t be. I’m not. It was for the best. I learned a lot from the relationship and from the breakup. It helped me become clearer in what I want and what I’m looking for.”

“And what is that?”

A slow smile crept across his face. “Besides smart, funny, interesting, and sexy?”

I bit my bottom lip and nodded. “Yes.”

“Someone who understands my work and why I work the way that I do. Someone who has their own work and is passionate about whattheydo. Someone whose presence brings me peace.” He took a swig of his water and kept his eyes trained on me. “Someone I want to talk to. Because there aren’t many people who make mewantto talk to them.”

Butterflies swept through my belly. “I like that answer.”

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