Free Unrequited (Chosen #3) by Alisa Mullen

shotgun.”
    Nick’s head shot up. “Lizzie!” Nick reprimanded. Everyone’s head turned in the restaurant. Lizzie looked like she had been slapped across the face. Her face was blotchy red and she was fuming.
    Sean took Lizzie’s shaking arm and carefully encouraged her out the door. Nick put his face in his hands. I rubbed my hand over his back. “I am sorry. Maybe it was too soon. She is so angry, Nick. How do you deal with that every day?”
    He shook his head and looked at me. “That was not the Lizzie I know.” He looked down at the table and gave the remaining dishes of food a quizzical look. What could he possibly be thinking about her abrupt departure?
    I rubbed my hand up his arm and sighed. “She isn’t anything like Conner was. Who was that guy she was with anyway? Is he really a good friend to her? Why was he the one that grabbed her right away? If I had been you, I would have tried to console her but you didn’t. You stayed here with me.  I don’t want to be mean or anything, Nick, but we are old friends and I hope we can be honest with each other.” He nodded at me with a worried look.
    “She just isn’t who I ever pictured you to be with. You are Nick fucking Sawyer. What does she do for you to make you happy in your relationship? Because, quite honestly, I just don’t see it,” I said.
    He grunted in response. Was he agreeing with me? Did he see that she wasn’t the mature woman that deserves his lifelong promise? I knew in that moment as I stared at him that I had gotten to him. He did not look happy and it was all of her fault.  He would have to ponder what about her that really makes him happy. She had to prove that she was the woman he wanted to be with. And, if I had anything to do with it, that would not happen anytime soon.

ELEVEN - NICK
     
    I put Sam into a taxi and started walking towards the car, hoping that Lizzie and Sean were already there. I was beat. I wanted my bed and I wanted it now. If I had to walk up to Mike’s and then back down the streets to find them, I was going to be pissed. I was already pissed. She drank and she is pregnant! Who the hell was that girl at dinner? She is always so friendly and accommodating to people but something switched and she became the pettiest woman I had seen in a long time. I felt bad for Sam. She had gotten all dressed up and was trying to apologize. It wasn’t until she told me that Lizzie obviously didn’t make me happy that I zoned out.
    Lizzie and Sean were leaning on the side of the car, stuffing cannolis in their faces. Niall was in his car seat and Lizzie was scooping small amounts of the filling and putting into his mouth with her finger. When I looked at her, I could see the tear stains down her face. Sean immediately put his hands in his pockets and started walking around the car.
    “Where is she?” Lizzie cried. “Where is that woman?”
    “I put her in a cab,” I deadpanned. She nodded her head and then let out a long breath.
    “Lizzie? Why? Why were you so spiteful towards her?”
    She threw her hand up to her mouth, dropping a cannoli to the ground and her eyes widened. She started to shake and then the tears started all over again.
    “You know. Maybe it is best if I do go to the hotel after all,” Sean said. “I can just grab my stuff and go.” I wasn’t exactly sure who he was talking to but Lizzie continued to sniff so I am not sure that she even heard him.
    I walked to the other side of the car and opened Lizzie’s door. She hung her head and got in. Sean went to the back passenger door and I nodded to him. “I think that would be best for everyone, Sean. Please, let me make sure you get to where you are going,” I said.
    He gave me a quick nod and a sympathetic look. He knew that Lizzie had basically cracked, too.
    I dropped Lizzie and Niall at the front door of our brownstone and Sean went in to get his bags. Neither of them said anything to me. I put my head on the steering wheel and listened to