Page 27 of The Holiday Ex-Files

Noah knocked, forcing me out of my head.

I headed toward the door, thinking it had been a long time since I’d had anyone but Mara over. You know, other than Noah, but I never invited him, he just showed up. I used to be such a social butterfly, as my mom would call it. When I was growing up, I think I had a slumber party every weekend. And in college if I’d heard about a party, I was there. Even when I was with Ben, we did a lot of entertaining. That was until he started making me feel so self-conscious.

I opened the door to find a smiling Noah, with pizza and a six-pack of my favorite soda in hand.

“Look at that, I only had to knock once. See how easy it was to answer,” he taunted me.

“You are bearing my dinner.”

“So, food is the key?”

“It couldn’t hurt,” I teased.

“I’ll keep that in mind.” He walked in. My place instantly smelled like heaven with a side of garlic bread.

I carefully set Neville down and relieved Noah of the soda. “Thanks for picking up the food. I can Venmo you for half.”

Noah’s brow scrunched as if I’d offended him. “It’s my treat.”

“Okay. Next time, though, it’s my treat,” I said before I thought about what I was saying.

Noah’s eyes danced. “So, what I’m hearing is this is going to be a regular thing between us from now on.”

I set the soda on my counter. “Uh, I don’t remember agreeing to that.”

“Why don’t we agree on it now.” He set the pizza next to the soda.

“Why don’t we see how tonight goes.”

“Then it’s a sure thing. You’re going to see I’m the best friend you’ve ever had.”

“Mara will fight you for saying that, and just so you know, she fights dirty.”

Noah waved his hand in the air. “I can take her.”

I walked around him and opened the cupboard near the stove to get some plates. “That won’t be necessary. Mara’s place as my best friend is secure. Besides, we all know how busy you are with your photo shoots.” I smirked. “Is the redhead with the German shepherd going to be your new victim, I mean girlfriend?”

Noah took the plates from me, wearing a look of consternation. “You know, someday you’re going to feel bad for teasing me about my so-called photo shoots.”

“And why is that?”

“Because I have noble intentions.”

I busted out laughing. “Right. I’m sure this mystery woman you’re in love with will really appreciate you dating every woman in Nevada for her. That’s so romantic.”

“It is, actually.” He pulled no punches.

I narrowed my skeptical eyes at him. “How do you figure?”

“If you want to know my secrets, we’ll have to become best friends first.”

I rolled my eyes. “Would you like a glass with some ice?”

“You’re avoiding my offer.”

“Noah,” I whispered. “You’re Ben’s best friend.”

He set down the plates and placed his hands on my shoulders, making sure to squarely look me in the eye. “Cams, once upon a time, I was one of your best friends too. Don’t you remember?”

At least a dozen good memories popped in my head. From fun camping and beach trips to tender moments, like when he and Ben drove all day and all night to see me play in the final basketball game of my college career. They even made signs that said, Cami J., Shoot Three for Me and Cami’s Number One Fans. I kept those posters for a long time. I burned them in my fireplace not long after moving into my condo.

“Sometimes I wish I could forget. It was the best time of my life, but I don’t even know if it was real.”

His eyes widened.

Miss Sparkly interjected, I don’t think we have properly admired his ice-blue peepers. A girl could get lost in them.

Not us, I had to remind her. I mean me. Oy vey, I was giving myself a headache.

His masculine hands gently squeezed my shoulders. “I promise you, every bit of it was real.”

“Then why did Ben cheat and leave?” I extricated myself before Miss Sparkly had any more unhelpful insights. And I didn’t want to hear the reasons why out loud. Believe me, all you had to do was look at Claudia to know why. Sometimes I wondered if their affair was going on for much longer than the couple of months he’d owned up to. Honestly, I hoped it was true. It would explain so much. Especially why I wasn’t good enough for him anymore.

“Ben,” he groaned, “lost his way.”

“Right.” I threw open my dishwasher to grab some glasses. “That’s a good spin on it.”

“Cams.” Noah skimmed his finger along my jaw to turn my head in his direction. He was really getting touchy-feely in his old age. It was weird, but not a bad weird. Except it awoke cravings in me I had long buried and hoped to keep that way. But there was something about a man’s touch that my soul longed for. Not from Noah, of course. He was a friend. My ex-husband’s best friend. And he was taken.

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