Noel nodded, because what else could she do? As much as she loved Victoria, she missed her mother. Victoria and Chris welcomed her into their home with open arms, but they couldn’t replace the parents she’d lost. She didn’t want them to.
Victoria released her, taking the cup from her. “I’ll see you later then.”
“See you.” When Victoria turned back to her dishes, Noel discreetly threw the remainder of the cookie in the trash.
Chapter 9
NICK
Nick didn’t like hitting Rocking Rochelle’s on a regular night, but Anthony and Pike dragged him out for Singles Hump Day on Wednesday night after he’d returned from Colorado. As much as he’d wanted to head to bed early, he couldn’t blow off his guys when they seemed bound and determined to help him through his breakup.
Plus, it gave him an excuse to show off his new truck.
Still, the amount of meat being marketed around the two-story club should be criminal. It was eleven degrees outside and some women were in scraps of material just big enough to cover their bits. He could enjoy the view like any other red-blooded male, but they had to be freezing.
Pike nudged him as a girl in leather pants and a cropped tube top walked by. “Whoooeee, what about her?”
As pretty as she was, Nick shrugged.
“You’re killing me,” Pike muttered, downing the rest of his brew.
Nick had never been the club type and hooking up with a stranger didn’t appeal to him. He’d given Tinder a shot while he was in Colorado, but nobody stood out as he swiped through profiles. After his meeting, he’d stopped at the hotel bar and met a woman who’d been more than interested. They’d talked for a while, had a few laughs, but right as he’d made the decision to invite her up, his phone dinged with a Spotify notification. Noel sent him a song and suddenly, all he’d wanted to do was go up to his hotel room alone and listen to it.
As much as he longed for a little touch, hooking up with a bunch of random partners with names he couldn’t remember didn’t appeal to him. He wanted something real with someone special.
Someone who could be my best friend.
It wasn’t the first time the thought crossed his mind over the last week. Being home for good flipped a switch in him that Nick hadn’t been prepared for. Noticing the flecks of black in Noel’s dark eyes. The freckles that dotted the bridge of her nose and cheeks. How good her curves felt being pressed against his body.
He’d known how amazing she was for years, but he’d never thought of her as anything more than Noel. Well, besides the night he’d returned from boot camp. Sitting by the bonfire while other couples milled around them, he’d nearly kissed her. If she hadn’t disappeared and Amber never sat down next to him, would things have turned out differently? There was no way to know for sure.
Now, after the recent moments they’d shared and that kiss? He realized the attraction he felt for her was the strongest he’d ever experienced.
Even stronger than with Amber.
But they’d both convinced themselves that they were better off friends. How did he break the news to her he’d changed his mind and wanted to take a chance? Even if it was a small step, like dinner, just the two of them.
Them putting on an act for Mistletoe gave him a chance to explore everything he was feeling without worrying about scaring her off. But what would he do when the ruse ended and he realized he had real feelings for her?
Nick rubbed a hand over his face. She’d never go for it, not the way she felt about relationships and romance.
Anthony came back to the table with another round of beers and Pike growled. “Would you do something about him? He is killing the vibe!”
While Anthony and Nick were in casual shirts and slacks, Pike looked like he was ready to do a cover shoot for some cheesy romance novel. Blue silky shirt. Gray slacks. Black leather jacket. The one thing to throw it off was the black and gray polka dot tie.
“Pretty sure nobody is interested in your vibe,” Anthony razzed.
Nick laughed.
“Hate all you want, but the ladies love my swagger.”
Pike danced in place and winked at a couple of women walking by. They giggled, but kept going.
“See?”
Anthony snorted in disgust.
“Guess they weren’t that impressed,” Nick said.
Anthony flipped Pike’s tie over his shoulder. “You look like the guy on the Bounty paper towels…sissified.”
Pike shook him off and straightened his clothes. “Shit, I look good.”
“You’d be all right if you lost the tie.”