Page 118 of Nick and Noel's Christmas Playlist

Trip didn’t hesitate, but took off back into the community center. Noel sighed heavily.

“You know I was handling it, right?”

Anthony put an arm around Noel’s shoulders. “We know. I was waiting for you to crack him one, but Pike got impatient.”

Noel wasn’t the damsel in distress type, but with Trip being drunk and brazen, he might not have backed off so easily if the guys hadn’t shown up.

“Thank you.”

Anthony squeezed her with a grin. “Come on, let’s get out of here.”

Pike trailing a foot behind them as they headed toward Anthony’s truck.

“What were you doing out here with him, anyway?” Anthony chided. “Where’s Nick?”

Noel cleared her throat, trying to get past the lump lodged there. “We didn’t work out.”

“Fuck,” Pike mumbled. “I knew it.”

“Shut up.” Anthony opened the passenger door, studying her. “Do you wanna get a drink and talk about it?”

Noel paused with her hand on the door, giving him a sad smile. “How about we get drunk and not talk about it?”

“Deal.”

Pike got into the back of Anthony’s Chevy truck, letting her take the front. He hadn’t said a word to her and she cleared her throat before turning around to look at him.

“Thanks for defending my honor.”

Pike nodded. “I always got your back. That’s what friends do.”

The lump in her throat threatened to choke her. “I appreciate you.”

“Yeah, sure. I never did like that guy.”

Anthony climbed into the driver’s seat just in time to weigh in. “Me neither.”

Pike leaned back against the seat, watching her warily. “So, how bad was your breakup with Nick and whose fault was it?”

“Pike…” Anthony growled.

“What? I just need to know who is getting me in the split.”

“Oh my God, it was barely one date!” Noel cried. “There will be no splitting or choosing. We just need a little time apart and then everything will go back to the way it was.”

“Aren’t you doing the Christmas concert together?” Pike asked.

Noel clenched her jaw. “Yes.”

“So, practices still for another week.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Geez, yeah, I can see where all that distance is going to come into play.”

“Shut up, Fish,” she mumbled.

“So much for gratitude.”

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