Page 82 of Christmas Criminal

And then he also gives me a good dickingbeforethe tree lighting.

We parkat the high school again and head over to the fair hand in hand. We get coffees and wander around the huts that line the town square. I have to head back into the city tomorrow to hand out everyone's Christmas bonuses, so I'll miss the frenzy of Shop Til You Drop in the square, but it's not really a shop-til-you-drop event, anyway. It ends at noon to give vendors time to spend withtheirfamilies. It's really meant to encourage people to do their last minute Christmas shopping from locals rather than mass panic-buying at the local Target.

Nick throws his arm around my shoulders while we wander, something he's been doing a lot lately. He's gotten so comfortable touching me and kissing me.

It's intoxicating.

"Do you want a snack or anything?" he asks, pressing a kiss to my temple in the place that always sends a little shiver down my spine.

I shake my head. "No. You're taking me to a real dinner after this, right?"

He doesn't miss a beat. "Of course."I grin up at him as his smile spreads across his face. "I wouldn'tmakeyou go to a stupid town event without taking care of your basic needs."

"You're smooth," I tell him.

He catches my eye before he speaks. "I just know you."

Thatsentiment sends all sorts of butterflies fluttering through my body. He's not wrong–over the past few weeks, wehavegotten to know each other well.

A tightness blooms in my chest when I ask myself what happensafterChristmas.

I hug him tighter. I don't want to think about this ending.

But what am I going to do, drive three hours every time I want to see my... boyfriend? Is that what we are now? A high schooler jokingly called me his girlfriend, and Nick didn't correct him.

We live three hours away from each other. My entire life exists in Philadelphia. Not to mention, he liveshere,in a place that chewed me up and spat me out before I knew enough to knowbetter.

"You okay?" he asks, his arm tightening around my shoulder. I squeeze him, letting my head drop to his shoulder for a moment before turning my attention back to the huts we're wandering past.

And then someone steps into our path, a wide grin on his face and a pretty blonde on his arm.

"Mr. Monroe," he says, his voice jovial. "And Noelle. Hi."

"Robbie," Nick says, his voice betraying his surprise as he steps forward to clap Robbie on the back. "Nice hair cut, dude. You look good."

It takes me a second to come to terms with the new Robbie standing in front of me. He’s confident, wearing his full height proudly, and he meets my gaze with that same big grin he always wears. He’s learned how to style his hair, and while his wardrobe used to consist of baggy, worn clothes, he’s wearing a plain fitted sweatshirt over a brand new pair of jeans.

"I, uh, got a job at the gym.” He shrugs sheepishly. “I liked what you said,” he admits. “That I was strong. And I decided I wanted to build on that," he says, tugging the blonde girl on his arm toward us. "And this is Laura. She trained me." He grins at her. "And hasn't been able to keep her hands off me since."

"Robbie!" she squeals, her words quickly devolving into a giggle.

"Alright, I don't need to know all the gory details," Nick says, holding one hand up. "But happy for you, Robbie. And nice to meet you, Laura."

"Nice to meet you too," she says sweetly, smiling up at Robbie as he wraps an arm around her shoulders.

"Well," Robbie says, his voice almost professional as he nods to us. "It was nice running into you both. Happy holidays. And I'm glad you're finally together because that sexual tension wasuncomfortable. Almost as bad as me and Laura."

"Robbie!" she squeals again. Nick runs a hand over his face, and I can't help the laugh that jumps from my throat.

"Enjoy the tree lighting," he says, steering her around us and continuing on their way.

Once they're out of earshot, we can't hold in the snorting laughter anymore. Nick turns to me, taking my hands in his and kissing them while shaking his head. "I feel like we just got bulldozed by a teenager."

I snort in response. "Not bulldozed, but definitely shown up. He did the whole glow up thing in the matter of a few weeks, found himself a sexy little workplace romance and somehow found the confidence that only a teen boy can have when he gets the girl of his dreams and knows there's nowhere to go but up."

"Yeah, you know, I was worried about him for a bit there. Over the past few weeks he's been quiet, and I was really worried his home situation was further falling apart. I guess he just found a purpose. I’m glad he’s doing well."

I grin, turning to look over my shoulder at where they disappeared to. In the distance, I see them, his arm still around her shoulder and their heads turned in toward each other, sharing one of those intimate moments just between you and your person.

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