Noel leveled him with a glare. “You know when you call him a douche, you’re calling me dumb, right?”
“Huh? I am not! You just deserve better than him. You deserve a guy who will open doors, pay the dinner tab…” He stroked his facial hair. “Can grow a real beard.”
Noel smothered a grin. “I appreciate the sentiment behind it. Really.”
“I didn’t know you were dating Trip,” Nick said.
Noel’s face flamed. She’d been hoping to avoid talking about relationships with Nick. Not because he cared what she did, but their views on dating were so different, it was awkward to discuss.
“It was only a few months.”
Anthony piped in. “Plus, they were just fucking.”
Noel snatched one of the glasses and dropped the shot in. “Thanks for making me sound like a class act.”
“There’s nothing wrong with hooking up,” Pike said.
“Oh my God, can we please stop talking about this?” Noel chugged the J?gerbomb, her face scrunching as the licorice aftertaste hit her. She shook her head, coughing a few times and finally sighed.
“We’re just saying…” Anthony stammered.
“I know you are trying to make me feel better, but sometimes hanging with you is worse than spending the day with Gabby. Always telling me how I can do better. That I should look for something real. Why can’t a woman just get a little D when she wants it without putting up with a guy’s BS?”
Several tables swiveled her way and she wanted to sink into the floor. Anthony and Pike started talking at once, but Nick stood up and held his hand out to Noel. “Come on, Noel. You love this song.”
Noel listened to the old Mindy McCreedy melody for a half a second before she took his hand. The guys were still jabbering on, now arguing with each other on double standards and relationships. The rescue was timely and appreciated. As much as she loved Anthony and Pike, they still treated her like a little sister instead of one of the guys.
Well, Anthony treated her like a sister. Pike was protective, but loved to flirt with her. Maybe a third cousin for him.
Noel giggled at her silent joke and Nick quirked a brow. “Something on my face?”
“No, you’re good. Just funny thoughts.”
“Hmmm, I get the feeling our boys were the butt of whatever joke you had rolling through that head of yours.”
“I’ll never tell.”
Nick chuckled, pulling her against him. “About Trip…”
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
Really, talking about it with Nick, sweet, perfect Nick who’d stayed with the same girl for eight years? They’d never really talked about their sexual conquests, but Noel had a feeling Amber was Nick’s one and only. It was hard to discuss her sexual exploits with such a paragon of virtue.
She hadn’t danced with Nick since high school and the press of his body to hers felt brand new. He was definitely harder all over than as a teenager. Noel still remembered the shock when he’d come back from boot camp and he’d stood in formation, his shoulders broader, his arms defined. No longer the skinny kid that left but a man. She hadn’t known what to do until after he finished hugging his parents and yanked her into his arms.
The awkwardness passed and they were Nick and Noel again.
She slid her arms around his waist and her hands stilled as the muscles in his back bunched. His fingers laced together behind her, resting at the top of her jeans. She could feel the warmth of his skin through the fabric at her back, a pleasant sensation.
When Nick shuffled his feet, she swayed with him happily. Nick wasn’t the best dancer, but his slow dance shuffle worked.
“Thanks for dragging me out here. That was embarrassing.”
“Why? It’s just us and no one’s judging you. We’ve all had friends with benefits.”
“Really?” Noel quirked an eyebrow. “All of us?”
Nick chuckled. “All right, so maybe not me, but I understand why it’s nice to sometimes have someone you can call any time you need the D.”
Noel groaned. “I can’t believe I said that in front of you.”
“Why in front of me?”
“You know…we haven’t hung out in person for a while. Even though you’re still my Nick, being away, we’ve missed a lot of each other’s day-to-day.” She cleared her throat. “I’m a little worried about you learning something about me you won’t like.”
Nick’s arms tightened around her. “I’ve seen you covered from head to toe in Beef-a-roni. Nothing could be worse than that.”