Page 27 of Santa Is A Sl*t

When I asked her why, she said it was a Christmas present from her and the guys, but mostly the guys. It’s annoying that they love her so much that they’d do something so nice for her best friend. It’s a little hard to be mad at them for stealing her way now.

The paperwork takes no time at all and within an hour, we’re sitting at a bar down the street, celebrating our new living statuses.

“Now, spill, what encouraged this new journey of maturity,” Val asks.

Rolling my eyes, I sip my drink slowly before I answer. “After you told me that you were moving out, I decided I wanted to make some changes.”

“Making some changes would be turning my room into a home gym or adding a sex swing in the living room. You said career and relationship. Those are not even in the same ballpark, my friend.”

Val looks smug, as if she believes she’s caught me in a trap.

“Okay well, first of all, a gym is for people who don’t puke at the thought of cardio,” I tell her with my nose wrinkled in disgust. “Second of all, I…might have started fooling around with Eve and Kane again.”

Val squeals. “And?”

“I like them. They’re fun and thoughtful and I’ve always felt safe with them.”

“What are you leaving out?” Her eyes narrow.

Grinning, I wiggle my brows up and down. “That Nico also bent me over his desk and gave me a spanking. Then I watched him fuck Kane while eating Eve’s pussy in Santa’s sleigh.”

Luckily, Val turns her head in time to not spray me with her drink. “Holy shit.”

If I look smug, it’s because I am.

“So is that why you mentioned a relationship?”

I catch her up to speed on everything. Val is sympathetic and understanding, even when she tries to add reason to a situation I’m not quite willing to focus on resolving right now.

When we’ve finished a second round of drinks, we close our bar tab and part with a hug.

She leaves to be with her guys and I feel a sense of longing. This morning, I thought I would be on my way to something special like that.

I’m disappointed that today didn’t turn out how I expected but I’m also grateful that at least one part of my future doesn’t look so uncertain.

When I walk through the apartment door, I’m expecting to feel something. Instead, I still feel empty. I can’t help but wonder what it’d be like to call Eve and see if she wants to come over and eat a gallon of ice cream with me. Or to ask Kane if he wants to hang out on the couch and watch a movie.

And Nico. Maybe I could learn what he likes to do for fun too.

But for now, I’m going to keep taking my baby steps. I have time to figure out the rest.

Chapter Thirteen

NICO

It’s been one week. Seven days.

And I haven’t gotten to say one word to Noel.

Besides Kane and Eve, we’ve all been giving each other space.

We’ve had a couple of meetings with the team at GroundUp, starting to put things in motion on the new project. I’ve enjoyed seeing the beginning stages.

I was shocked when Hart suggested that I should consider coming on board as an analyst for the project. He said my skills would be better put to use collecting data and using it to help ensure each stage of the process flows as smoothly as possible.

After he put the idea in my head, it’s been all I can think about. I finally feel like I might have a job where I’m happy with what I do again. Plus, I wouldn’t have to leave SantaScape.

I haven’t given him an answer yet. There are a few things I need to take care of before I can make my decision.

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