Page 27 of Naughty & Nice

Noelle gasps as I get comfortable beside her. And when I look over, I find her tense as hell.

“What’s wrong?”

“N-Nothing.” It takes a couple of seconds, but she finally looks up at me.

Her cheeks are red from the cold air making her look cuter than normal.

“You sure?” I ask.

“Of course. Look,” she says gesturing to our surroundings. “What could possibly be wrong?”

It’s so peaceful out here.

I stare out at the falling snow as I get settled.

Nothing more is said between us as we enjoy the view and the company.

With my feet on the deck, I gently rock us back and forth.

Noelle’s book is closed on the blanket between us as she hugs her mug and blows across the surface of the hot coffee, sending steam floating off into the cold air around us.

I watch her, not liking the slight frown marring her brow.

“Are you sure everything is okay?” I ask, unable to stop myself.

She startles at the sound of my voice as if she isn’t even aware that I’m here. It only makes my concern grow.

“Y-Yeah,” she says, very briefly glancing over at me before her eyes focus on the tree-covered mountains once more.

“Noelle,” I sigh, regrets from last night bubbling up inside me.

I knew it was inevitable that I’d wake up alone this morning. The only time Noelle ever sleeps in is if she’s sick. But I hated not knowing if she was okay.

I wanted to wake her when I crawled into bed last night and apologize again, but I didn’t want to disturb her. She looked so peaceful.

But everything that had happened, the stupid things I said…

I don’t know what came over me. I’m usually good at keeping my feelings for her locked down. I’m not sure whether it’s the freedom of being away from normality, or the ‘jokes’ Wilder keeps making, but the words just blurted from my lips.

I told her that I once crept on her when she was topless.Fucking great friend you are.

“I’m so sorry. Last night… things got a little?—”

“Stop apologizing; you didn’t do anything wrong,” she says, reaching for my hand and squeezing in support. “It’s me. I?—”

“You’re perfect,” I say, cutting her off. “I know you had an image in your head for what this trip was going to be like, and it hasn’t turned out quite as you hoped. But it’s still going to be awesome.”

“I know,” she whispers.

Silence falls again. I get the feeling she wants to say more, but I don’t push her. She’ll open up when she’s ready.

So instead, we sit and swing gently as we drink our coffee and watch the snow fall.

I haven’t been up all that long, but the thickness of it on the ground has already doubled.

Eventually, Noelle picks up her book and twists around to get comfortable.

Our legs entwine under the blanket and she smiles softly at me before losing herself in whatever story she’s reading.

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