Page 103 of Christmas Criminal

Before he can leave, I run after him.

"Hank!" He stops, eyebrows raised as he twirls his keys around one finger. "Do you know where Nick is?"

He nods. "I've got a good idea. Turns out the two of you aren't all that different."

"Are you going to go get him?"

He shrugs. "Something like that."

"Okay, I'll come with you."

He shakes his head, resolute. "No. Noelle, you go spend Christmas with your family." He points behind me into the living room, where my mom and Harriet hesitantly laugh at something Naomi said. "I promise, we'll both be back soon."

"You think he’s okay?"

Hank nods. "My guess is he's just fine."

He puts his hands on my shoulders and shoves me gently back toward the rest of the women. "Go, Noelle. We'll be back soon."

"Okay."

22

NICK

Wednesday, December 25th

Istare at the Goldmans' old house, fixated on the first floor window with the light on. Every once in a while, the shadow of a man passes in front of it, a beer in one hand.

It makes my blood boil. My hair stand on end. My fists clench.

It makes me feel all sorts of emotions that Noelle picks up on so clearly.

When she said that to me, it was a lightbulb moment in my head. This whole time, I've been worried that my emotions wouldn't be enough for her. That she'd leave just like Emily left, all the while telling me she wants morepassionfrom me. That she wants me tofightfor her.

Well, here's my fight.

Turns out it's easy when someone slights the one you love.

He's home alone, as far as I can tell, drinking by himself on Christmas instead of hanging out with the amazing group of women who are so willing to forgive him despite his shortcomings.

I'd be so lucky to have what he has.

And because I don't want to waste another moment away from them, I open the carton of eggs in my hand and take one out, throwing it gently into the air and catching it without breaking it.

This is the path Noelle took when she was angry.

Today, we're going to see if it truly is as cathartic as she said it was.

I chuck it at the house, feeling an immense rush of pleasure at the light cracking noise it makes against the front door.

The silhouette in the window pauses, and then takes a step closer. I can only imagine he's peering out, trying to determine what that noise was.

I chuck another egg, this time at that exact window, and see the figure rear back.

I throw another one at the front door before he storms through the house, flinging it open and screaming out at me.

"Hey man, I don't know what the fuck you're doing but you can knock it right off!"

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