I flinch as Nick slams his hands on the table. Margaret is crying and Lawrence is smirking. He's smirking!

Nick isn't the greatest person alive but he put one hundred percent of himself into his business. His dad had no right to say that.

I glance at Jordyn, his attention is on his plate.

"Nice going dad" Gigi says.

Lawrence looks up and his smirk drops.

"I just wanted one birthday with the family together and you can't even give me that."

"It's not my fault your brother is a screwup" Lawrence says

"He isn't a screwup dad! Why can't you just treat him like your son and not a goddamn business deal! You're the reason he never comes home! You're the reason he hasn't seen the family in over a year and you're the reason that he won't get to meet his niece!"

Lawerence's eyes widen.

"Wait you're-"

"Pregnant? Yes I am. Almost three months. Thanks for noticing by the way."

"Gracie-"

"Just don't! I'm done with you" Gigi says before stomping away from the table with Daniel following close behind her.

"Did you know?" Lawrence asks his wife.

Margaret shakes her head at him before standing and following Gigi.

I turn to Jordyn.

"I'm gonna go check on him. Can you take Ollie out to see the horses?"

Jordyn nods and stands up. I watch as he takes Ollie out of the room.

After they're out of sight I excuse myself and leave Lawrence with Jordyn's mom and the brunette that Nick left the gala with. I still didn't know why she was here.

I follow the noise down the hall until I come upon a room. The oak door is shut but from behind it I can hear Nick screaming and things breaking.

I hesitate before knocking.

"Go away Izzy I'm not in the mood!" He yells.

I slowly turn the knob and step inside the room.

"I said go away!" Nick screams turning around.

His eyes widen when he sees me.

"Hazel? I'm sorry I thought you were someone else." He says in a low voice.

I glance around what I assume to be his bedroom and take it in. The walls are dark blue and the floor is hardwood. Hockey posters litter the wall along with shelves of books, medals, and trophies.

When my attention finally falls on Nick I notice how tired and worn out he looks. He has dark bags under his eyes, his hair is disheveled, his clothes wrinkled, he even had stubble on his chin and around his lips.

"I'm sorry you had to hear all that" Nick says looking around his room.

My eyes drift down to his knuckles which are split open and bloody.

"Are you okay?" I ask him even though I'm sure I know the answer.

His shoulders sag as tension leaves his body.

"Nobody ever asks me that" he says in a weak voice as he sits on his bed.

"Do you ever give anyone a chance to?" I ask shyly.

He glances up at me with a sad expression. I could see the pain and the hurt. It was as clear as his emerald eyes.

After a moment he lowers his head again, and rests it in his hands.

I glance around his bedroom and the mess he made before walking to the corner of the room and picking up the shattered pieces of a hockey trophy.

"He was right you know" I hear Nick mumble.

"Which part?"

"All of it" he replies with a shaky voice.

I pause and turn my head towards him. His attention was on his bloody knuckles.

"I haven't done a damn thing right in my life. He was right I am worthless and stupid."

"No you're not Nick. The last three years all I've ever seen is how hard you work. Your company is most important to you. I used to think that you were just the face, not the brains. But the last few weeks have really changed my mind."

Nick stays silent.

I go back to picking up broken pieces of glass and metal.

"You don't have to do that. I'll clean it up later" Nick finally says.

"It's fine really" I respond turning my back towards him.

I bend over to pick up more broken glass as he stands behind me. I could feel his body heat radiating off of him. I place the glass in the trash as his fingers wrap around my wrist.

His fingers were soft and large compared to my small shape. I felt my face and chest flush at his touch.

"Hazel" he says with so much pain in his voice it made my heart lurch.

I turn around to face him.

"I'm so sorry" he tells me in a weak voice.

He was looking deep into my eyes, and he looked like he was going to break at any second.

"It's not a big deal Nick we all have family that can be rude-"

"I'm not talking about my dad" he says cutting me off.

"You're not?" I ask lifting an eyebrow.

He slowly shakes his head and trails his hand down to mine, his fingertips grazing mine tantalizingly slow.

My heart beat increased as his eyes trailed down to our hands.

"I'm sorry for the way I treated you all those years. I was so caught up in myself that I didn't pay attention and I'm so sorry. I didn't realize how much you had done for me. I didn't realize how much I needed you until you left. I was such a dick to you when you didn't deserve it and I'm so sorry Hazel"

I was shocked.

Nick Knight never apologized.

"Why now?"

"What?"

"Why are you apologizing now?" I ask pulling my hand free from his.

A shadow crosses over his face as his shoulders slump.

"It's long overdue." He says

"But why Nick?"

He drags his emerald eyes back up to mine.

"I'm trying to be better. I'm trying to make amends with all the people I've wronged. And you were treated the worst. I used you for everything and didn't show my appreciation at all. That was so wrong of me. I know that I don't deserve your forgiveness but I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure you know how extremely sorry I am."

My heart swelled at his apology.

"I forgive you Nick. But it's going to take a while for me to trust you enough to come back"

His face lights up.

"You'll think about coming back?"

I slowly nod my head.

"Even though you treated me like shit. I loved my job and I was good at it."

He chuckles and runs his hand through his hair.

I smile at him and look into his eyes.

The heat and desire that I saw mirrored my own. The air thickened with tension between us.

"Hazel" he breathed my name.

It rolled off his tongue so softly it made my bones turn to mush.

Just as he opens his mouth to speak he is cut off by a brisk knock at his bedroom door.