“Women, man. Can’t figure ’em out.”
Pike came back to the table with three beers, ignoring Nick’s directive that he’d had enough. “What did I miss?”
“I think Amber still wants a piece of our Nick.”
Pike’s expression hardened. “Fuck her and the broomstick up her ass. Nick deserves better.”
“Thanks, buddy.”
“Like her.” Pike pointed to a brunette in a jean skirt and waggled his brows. “I’ll bet you a hundred she’s got no panties on underneath that scrap of denim.”
“You’re a sick man, Pike,” Anthony said.
Nick’s phone vibrated and he opened Snapchat. Noel sent him a snap of her holding a baby, “Silent Night” playing in the background. A text came through next.
They named him Reagan, which means king, so I thought the song fit.
Nick smiled at the combination of exhaustion and elation on her face.
“Earth to Nick! You gonna take the bet?”
Nick opened Spotify and shook his head. “Nah, you go for it, buddy. I’m good.”
He ignored Pike’s groans and added “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King” to their playlist and shot her a link. His notifications dinged a moment later.
I LOVE it!
Nick couldn’t keep the shit-eating grin off his face.
Chapter 10
NOEL
Pregnant women and babies didn’t seem to realize that it was Thanksgiving and Noel hardly had a chance to breathe her entire shift, let alone eat. The hospital staff laid out a potluck in the breakroom and with it being well after six in the evening, most of the good stuff was picked over.
Noel glanced over the nearly empty trays of food and loaded a plate with a few pie slices. She could always whip up some ramen and veggies for a quick meal before diving into dessert.
Or not. There would be no one around to lecture her if she had dessert for dinner.
She headed out of the parking lot, the foil-covered plate sitting on the seat next to her. If she stopped by the Winterses, she knew that Victoria would fix her up a plate of food, but she didn’t have the energy to be social.
When she got home, she’d curl up on the couch watching A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving while eating the various slices of dessert and then pass out. That sounded like a solid plan.
It’s Thanksgiving, baby. We can do whatever we want today.
Noel smiled, remembering the Thanksgiving her dad was stuck in Chicago and they’d locked down the airport. Her mom still prepared the massive feast, but they started the day with pie for breakfast. She’d been nine, snuggled up against her mom on the couch while they watched a slew of Christmas movies with more whipped cream than pie on their plates. They’d given each other mani-pedis and facials, even had a dance party in their living room. Both her parents worked, so she’d always treasured any and all the alone time they spent together.
While she loved her dad, it was her favorite Thanksgiving memory.
Noel parked in the spot closest to the iron stairs, noting the nearly empty lot. The community center put on a big dinner every year that a lot of the town attended. Most of the folks in her apartment building were single people of various ages, all living alone, so it made sense they wouldn’t be here.
She walked up the stairs and noticed Trip sat on the top step waiting for her, dressed in a blue collared shirt and khaki slacks. His normally mushed hair was styled conservatively, probably because he went to his parents’ today. He stood up as she approached, a boyish grin on his handsome face.
“Hey, Noel.”
“Trip. What can I do you for?”
He shoved his hands into the pockets of his pants, lowering his eyes coyly. Noel found his antics charming once upon a time, but the rose-colored glasses were off. “I wanted to wish you a happy Thanksgiving.”
Noel passed him on the stairs, her shoulder brushing his chest as he turned to let her by. “You could have texted to tell me that.”
“I know, I just…I wanted to deliver it in person,” he said, trailing behind her on the fenced pathway to her second story apartment.
Like you told me in person you were hooking up with Jillian too?
Over the last few days, she’d done a lot of soul searching on why she was so angry at Trip and decided it was more to do with honesty. If she’d been hooking up with someone else, she would have said something for the safety factor alone. Yes, Trip and she had always used condoms, but accidents happened. Before they slept together, they’d been tested, but introducing another sexual partner without the other’s knowledge? Bad form.