Nick and Noel's Christmas Playlist (Mistletoe Romance #1)(10)

They looked perfect together, a wonderfully romantic moment captured and memorialized forever.

God, she was an idiot. At least she hadn’t voiced her idea about taking him to the wedding. He probably would have squeezed her arm like they really were old pals and given her some gentle letdown so he could still come off smelling like a rose.

Technically, he didn’t do anything wrong. You weren’t even together; just hooking up.

However, they had agreed to talk if something changed and the fact that he hadn’t mentioned Jillian spoke volumes.

“Hey! This was your idea. You coming or what?” Nick called from the entrance.

Noel slipped her phone into her clutch, swallowing past the lump in her throat. “Yeah, yeah, don’t get your boxers in a twist.”

She traipsed across the gravel parking lot where Nick waited at the door for her. She couldn’t quite meet his eyes; afraid he’d notice the slight sheen to hers. She wasn’t crying, not really, but they burned something awful. She’d put her feelings aside because Noel knew Nick needed to get out of the house, but honestly, she wished now they’d just stayed in watching a movie.

“Everything all right?” Nick asked.

“It’s great. Never better.” She squeezed his arm and discreetly dabbed at her eyes. “I can’t wait to get you drunk and watch you lose at pool.”

Nick looped an arm around her shoulders, sounding like the cheerful Nick she knew and loved. “It doesn’t matter how much I drink; I don’t lose.”

“First time for everything.”

They flashed their IDs at Paulie, the bouncer, even though they were the same age. Paulie’s stern features gave way to a grin when he spotted Nick.

“Nick, I heard you were getting back soon!” Paulie grabbed Nick and pulled him in for a one-armed hug. “Glad you’re in one piece, buddy.”

“Thanks, man.”

“It’s good to see you too, Paulie,” Noel said loudly.

Paulie snorted. “I see you almost every weekend, gorgeous. I would have said hi.”

Noel huffed. “Uh-uh, you had your chance.”

She breezed past the laughing bouncer and waited inside the entryway for Nick.

“Let me know if she is too much for you and I’ll boot her,” Paulie teased.

“I heard that!”

“You were meant to. I love it when you’re all fiery.”

Noel grinned at the bouncer’s flirting, feeling slightly better about Trip’s rejection.

Nick patted Paulie on the shoulder. “Great to see you.”

“Have fun, you two.”

Noel rolled her eyes. Even as kids, Nick was affable and fun to be around and people flocked to him. Now that he was back, she knew everyone would want to say hi, and hopefully it made him feel better about his breakup and not worse. Nick didn’t need hundreds of people asking him about his ex.

Pike and Anthony were already seated near the dance floor. While she’d stayed behind and waited for Nick to get ready, Anthony and Pike took off to pretty themselves up. Anthony’s dark hair parted on the side and lay flat against his head, shiny with whatever product he’d used to slick the strands down. The black button-up showed off broad shoulders, something more than one girl had pointed out to Noel over the years. Noel noticed with amusement that several women were slyly scoping out her two friends, even though Pike looked like a lumberjack dandy in a green-striped dress shirt and yellow bow tie. With his cheesy lines, it shocked her how much action he got.

“Oh my God, how does Fish not get thrown out of here looking like that?” she asked.

Nick chuckled. “I think Paulie is a second cousin or something. Only reason I can come up with.”

“Mercy me, I’m going to burn all his bow ties.”

He looped his arm around her neck, kissing the side of her head. “Don’t even bother, he’ll just buy more. I don’t think his look is going down without a fight.”

Had he always been so affectionate with her? Nick was a hugger. He treated everyone like a dear old friend, but the weight of his arm on her shoulder left Noel with the urge to snuggle closer. To soak it up. She realized that despite her desire to stay single, Trip and Jillian’s picture bothered her because she craved that kind of closeness. Cuddling. She told herself that she didn’t want all the baggage a relationship carried, but a part of her still desired that special intimacy.

When Nick dropped his arm so they could weave single file through the tables to get to the boys, Noel balked at how bereft she felt.

The dinner crowd was winding down, making way for the rowdy citizens of Mistletoe who liked to party. There wasn’t much to do on a small-town Saturday night but drink, dance, and do the deed.

“Finally! What took you so long?” Anthony asked.

“What can I say? Nick loves to primp.”

Before she could sit, Pike pointed to her. “First round’s on you.”

“How do you figure that, Peewee?” she asked, dropping her jacket on the back of the chair next to him. The humidity of the bar hit the exposed back her blue halter top didn’t cover.

Pike’s gaze narrowed at the dig. “’Cause you are the last person to sit down who is currently not nursing a broken heart.”

Anthony nodded thoughtfully, stroking his chin. “Sound logic.”