Anthony grabbed Pike in a headlock. “Little shit, I’mma beat your ass.”
Pike broke away from Anthony and ran a hand over his hair. “You mean, this ass?”
Pike grabbed the legs of his pants and they pulled right off, revealing a black G-string.
“Oh, fuck!” Anthony took off running with Pike chasing after him.
“Come here, Tony! I got something for you! Slow down and let me love you!”
Nick whipped out his phone, recording his two friends, laughing so hard the camera shook. Being in the barracks, they’d goofed around and grown close, but none of them could replace these men. They were his brothers. The guys he expected to stand up next to him on his wedding day.
Watching Noel walk toward him.
Nick wouldn’t mention any of his fantasies about their future, mainly because he didn’t want to freak her out. It didn’t mean they weren’t there, but if he was going to break through all of Noel’s walls, he needed to do it slowly. Carefully.
Texting her how much he missed her would be too much, too fast.
Finally, Pike and Anthony trekked back to the truck where Nick stood.
“What made you decide to do this?” Nick asked.
Pike shrugged as he snapped his pants back together. “Saw the auditions and figured if I got in, strippers make good money. Save up. Have a little fun.”
“Aren’t you nervous about dancing for women you know?”
“Nah.” Pike picked up his bag and slung it over his shoulder. “Now, can we get the hell out of here and get our gaming on?”
Once they were inside the truck, following behind Pike, Nick asked, “Should we tell him about the bachelorette party?”
Anthony shook his head. “Nah, you heard him. He’s cool.”
Chapter 25
NICK
Rows of green trees with twinkling lights and festive ornaments filled the large open space of the Mistletoe Community Center. The high ceilings allowed for trees anywhere between six and twelve feet. Different donation bins were placed sporadically around the event for people to donate toys, coats, and hygiene products. All would be donated after the event along with proceeds the event raised to help local charities.
Nick stood off to the side of the pie eating contest, checking out his sister’s tree. It was the first time since Holly opened A Shop for All Seasons that she’d entered, always pitching in with his parents to do a joint tree. The independent move put her store on the map, because in Nick’s opinion, it was the best-looking tree out there. Even better than his parents’。
Noel grabbed his hand and yanked him towards the pie table. “Come on.”
“What are we doing?” He laughed. Since Monday, Noel made it a habit of stopping by his apartment after work to have breakfast with him. Sometimes she brought food or he’d whip something up, but it always ended with them kissing. Touching. Cuddling.
And other more intimate activities.
His favorite meal happened Wednesday when he’d bought Nutella and strawberries for crepes, but they’d never made them. Instead, he’d licked half the jar of Nutella off Noel’s body. He’d been sick most of the day from the sweetness, but making her come twice made it worth the bellyache.
They hadn’t had sex yet. They’d done almost everything but the whole enchilada and Nick didn’t even care. He was having too much fun being with Noel. They were still friends, but better. After they’d fooled around, every day she’d fallen asleep in his arms, in his bed. When she woke up, they’d have lunch and sometimes she’d read or watch TV while he finished working. Other times he’d let her distract him. There was no resisting Noel when she stripped down to nothing, crawled between his legs and made him lose control.
Everything with Noel was amazing and he never wanted it to end.
They stopped next to the pie eating contest, Noel’s arms wrapped around his waist as she gazed up at him, that mischievous gleam in her eye. “Let’s go next round. Two-to-one odds I beat you by two minutes.”
“Please, do you know who you’re talking to? I am the pie master.”
“We’ll just see about that,” she said, grinning as she climbed onto the bench.
Nick squeezed in next to her, his hands clasped behind his back like hers, immobilized.
“Eaters take your mark. Get set. Chow!”
Nick dived in, widening his mouth to rake in the soft pudding center and realized too late it was banana cream. He gagged into the pie pan.
Of all the pies in all the world, his had to be that one. Nasty.