He found a white wicker basket and some blue tissue paper. Nick went through a shelf of candles, sniffing each one until he found a sweet, fruity scent that reminded him of Noel.
By the time he left the house, the basket was half full with several awesome finds. Now he just needed the main event.
The grocery store parking lot only had a few cars in it and one he recognized. He debated hanging out and waiting for Amber to leave, but it would be worse if she caught him sitting in his car. Then he’d really be trapped.
It was wrong to avoid her because he didn’t want any more socially awkward interactions, but he had no desire to hurt her feelings if she asked again if they could still be friends. They were never friends to begin with, so how could they be friends now? Especially since he hadn’t missed her cattiness toward Noel. When he’d started dating Amber, she’d been sweet and funny, so different from the heinous bitch Noel described. He’d made it clear to Amber that Noel was family and she needed to treat her with respect. As far as he knew, Amber had never dogged Noel in the eight years they’d been together. It was only in the last two weeks he’d really observed the animosity between the two of them.
Nick passed through the electric doors and snagged a grocery cart on his way to the cereal aisle. While grabbing a gallon of milk, he heard Amber calling his name. He turned around to find her clicking towards him on four-inch heels and a tight black sweater dress.
“What are you doing here so early?”
“Grabbing some things. How did you make it across the slick parking lot in those shoes?”
“Years of practice, darling.” She eyeballed the contents of his cart with a tsk. “Not a lot of healthy choices in there.”
“Noel had a bad day so I’m surprising her with some comfort food.”
“How sweet.” Her dry tone contradicted her statement. “Are you excited for Friday, birthday boy? What are you doing?”
“Just another year older. My mom’s making me dinner. Nothing big.”
Amber set a hand on one hip, her expression benign. “Is your girlfriend going?”
Nick knew she was fishing, but he didn’t mind taking the bait. If he made it clear Noel wasn’t going anywhere, maybe Amber would back off.
“Yeah, Noel will be there.”
“Oh, won’t that be fun.” The sarcasm hit a high note that ripped down Nick’s spine like chalk on a blackboard.
“Hey, what’s your problem with Noel?” Nick snapped.
She blinked big blue cow eyes at him, but he wasn’t fooled. “What do you mean?”
“Come on, Amber, I’m not an idiot. You keep bringing her up and being snarky about us. I know you two had beef in high school, but can’t you grow up and get over it?”
Her red lips curled into a snarl. “What about her? I know she talks shit on me every chance she gets, but I’m sure you aren’t jumping all over her case to defend me.”
“Amber, this may surprise you, but a lot of people talk shit about you.” Amber gasped. “I am not trying to be a dick. I am saying that it isn’t just Noel who has a problem with the way you treat people. I defended you for years, but I’m starting to see where they have a point.”
She looked apoplectic for a moment and he waited for the explosion, but instead she closed her eyes, pulling in a long, deep breath. When she opened them, there was a definite sheen to their blue depths and he felt like a tool.
“You’re right. I know I can be nasty and difficult. Certain people rub me the wrong way and I lash out. It’s a reflex.”
“I understand not liking everyone, but what’s wrong with Noel? She’s kind, funny, smart—”
Amber held up her hand. “To you. She is all those things to you, but she isn’t all sunshine and rainbows either.”
“I know that. In no way do I think Noel is perfect, but even if we weren’t together, she would still be my best friend. We’ve been through too much and we know each other, better than anyone else.”
“Oh really? I feel like we got to know each other pretty well over the last eight years. Intimately.”
Nick glanced around, but there was no one else near enough to hear them. “I’m not just talking about sex. I’m talking about knowing someone, inside and out because you care about what makes that person who they are. You’re right. Noel isn’t always sunshine and rainbows. If she doesn’t like you, she can be quite difficult. But when she loves you, she will do anything to ensure your happiness. Tell me, what do you know about me? What have you learned after eight years in my life?”