Page 41 of Stick Side
“He really did have the grades,” Emery corroborated in what Melody was coming to believe was her customary forthright way. “I work in administration at the hospital and saw his transcripts.”
Nolan made a face. “You never told me that.”
Emery’s eyes shone with mischief. “I don’t tell you a lot of things,” she goaded, all while sporting a winning smile on her beautiful umber-brown face.
“Anyway,” Nolan said, redirecting the conversation. “I like my job, so it all worked out in the end.”
“You’re very good at it, too,” Kayleigh praised.
Nolan’s expression softened as he lifted his soda glass in silent cheers. “Thanks, Kay.”
“So,” Nolan said, brushing the compliment aside once he’d acknowledged it. “Who’s ready for board games?” he asked before clapping his hands together.
“I was born ready,” Crystal responded, leading Melody to suspect she was a mite competitive.
They debated their options for a few moments before settling on a retro game calledPsychologizer.
“This should be interesting,” Melody commented good-naturedly as Nolan dealt everyone’s cards. Considering the game hinged on predicting what other players might say or do in response to typical and not-so-typical situations, she didn’t hold out a lot of hope on doing well with this crowd.
Nolan paused his card dealing to smile at her. “I wish I could say you were wrong, but you’re at a definite disadvantage in this game,” he admitted.
“I’d like to say we’ll go easy on you,” Crystal said, cracking her knuckles and stretching out her neck the way someone might before a boxing match rather than a round of board games, “but, even if we could, that’s not how we roll.”
Melody felt one corner of her lips quirk upward before she lifted her hands and shrugged a shoulder. “All’s fair in love and board games,” she joked. “Let the games begin!”
Threehoursandtwomore cups of tea later and Melody was ready to call it a night. She’d lost abysmally atPsychologizer—no surprise there—but had redeemed herself withCraniumandScattergories. She and Nolan had somehow managed to tie for first place, which led to a very grumbly Crystal. It would seem Melody had been correct to peg her as highly competitive.
Nolan helped Melody into her coat and walked her to the door after she’d said her goodbyes to the group.
“I had a really great time tonight,” he said as they stopped in front of the entryway.
Melody pulled her gloves out of her pocket and fiddled with them nervously. “I did, too,” she admitted.
Nolan’s eyes twinkled. “Don’t sound too surprised,” he teased.
Melody couldn’t help the shy smile that rose to her lips. “Can you blame me? I mean, have you ever had a good set up from anyone fifty years your senior?”
Nolan boomed out a laugh. It was the type of sound that one couldn’t help but respond to with a smile.
“I love my grandpa,” Nolan admitted, “but let’s be honest. My hopes weren’t high. I kept picturing him trying to set me up with a modern-day June Cleaver.”
Melody eyed him with curiosity. “And that would be bad?”
“Can I start off by saying I’m impressed you even know who June Cleaver is?”
Melody’s lips curled back up into the same sort of easy smile she’d worn throughout the night. “I went through a classic television phase,” she disclosed. “My mom watchedLeave It to Beaverwith her mom, which led her to watch it with me.”
“That’s cool,” Nolan said, seeming to mean it.
“But you don’t want to date a June?” Melody prompted, curious why he wasn’t interested in a character who had been typecast to be the ultimate dream wife.
“June is too beige,” Nolan admitted. “She seems like the type of mom I might have hoped my best friend would have had growing up. Kind, welcoming, and always offering up delicious food.”
Melody smiled at his commentary since she hadn’t missed the enthusiastic way Nolan had dug into his white chocolate chip cookie. Despite his physique, the man had an obvious sweet tooth.
“June Cleaver was a great lady, but she’s not the type of woman I’m looking for,” Nolan explained. “I want a partner, notan attendant. Someone who challenges me and has more to talk about than what she’s done all day to make my life easier.”
“That’s progressive,” Melody observed.
