Page 127 of Nick and Noel's Christmas Playlist

“It will be an hour or so.”

“Pike, Anthony, or both?”

“Both.”

“Ah, great. They weren’t too happy with me on Saturday night.”

Nick pulled the lid off another tote. “They’ll get over it. They adore you. This one looks like more clothes.”

Noel walked over, lifting the garment and finding a jewelry box on the bottom. “This was my mom’s. She had it since she was a little girl.”

“So, keep?”

“Yeah, I’ll go through it later.” Noel watched him pull more totes and boxes from the back, clearing her throat, “I can’t believe you aren’t still mad at me.”

“For?”

“Fighting with you? Blaming you for what happened with Amber.”

Nick shook his head. “Being mad at you doesn’t get me what I want.”

“And what’s that?”

“You.”

Noel laughed. “A bad-tempered tomboy with a mean right hook? You’re right, I totally see the appeal.”

“I know you’re mocking me and yourself, but…” Nick trailed off, crossing the unit to take her hand and pull her close. “If you look at it from my perspective, I get a fiercely loyal, protective, beautiful, funny woman who…” he waved his hand in a so-so motion, “doesn’t have terrible taste in music.”

“Whatever, you sent me Sixpence None the Richer.”

“So? ‘Kiss Me’ is a classic.”

“A classic, girly piece of crap.”

Nick gasped, his hand covering his chest. “How dare you!”

Noel chuckled, extracting herself from his hold after a swift peck. “Come on, goob. We can’t sit around here canoodling all day.”

“Oh, see, I got you with the canoodling now. Rubbing off on you, I am.”

The sound of a vehicle rumbled down the alley way and Anthony backed his truck up next to Nick’s.

“Look at that, faster than you thought,” Noel said.

“Must have taken a ho bath.”

Noel made a face. “Gross. Now they are gonna stink.”

“I don’t know. A little hard to sweat in this frigid air.”

Anthony and Pike climbed out, decked out in heavy coats, beanies, and gloves.

“Heard someone needed a hero,” Pike said, holding his phone up. “Holding Out for a Hero” blared from the tiny speaker and Anthony and Pike danced their way over.

“Geez,” Noel groaned. “Nerd alert.”

“Hey now, no sass out of you, young lady. You’re on probation.”

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