Page 143 of Nick and Noel's Christmas Playlist

“Great, thanks for doing that. I know it probably isn’t how you wanted to spend Christmas Eve.”

“Nah, it’s cool. Good luck, man. Hope she likes it.”

“Merry Christmas,” Pike yelled in the background.

“Merry Christmas to you both.”

The next hour seemed to go by in slow motion, except for the moment during the bouquet toss, when he watched Noel jump into the air and snag the round mix of red and white roses, her face split into a proud smile.

Noel finally came along the edge of the dance floor and took his hand. “I’m free.”

Nick held out his arm and she slipped a hand through his, leading her out to the parking lot and his truck.

Once they were inside his cab, letting the heater blow full blast in their faces, Nick handed her a black velvet jewelry box.

“Happy birthday.”

She took it slowly and he knew she was probably worried it was a ring. When she popped the lid and found a key, she held it up, puzzled.

“What’s it for?”

“My apartment. The key is so you can just let yourself in whenever you want. It is also an open-ended invitation for you to move in with me. No pressure.”

Nick put the truck into drive without gauging her reaction, afraid he’d miscalculated the situation. When they got back to the apartment building, she didn’t even turn toward her place but followed him right inside his.

Noel gasped as Nick flipped on the light switch and the place lit up with twinkly lights. The ceiling, around the windows, and strung along the limbs of his Christmas tree.

Underneath the tree was a pet carrier, but Noel was too busy looking at the lights to notice.

“When did you do this?”

“Anthony and Pike did it while we were at the wedding.” Nick nudged her with his arm. “Why don’t you go see if there’s something under the tree.”

Noel spotted the carrier and smothered a cry with her hand. “No!”

At first, he thought she meant she didn’t want it, but then she practically tripped over her dress in her hurry to get to the tree. She opened the top and Nick flipped on the ceiling light, as she pulled a tiny black-and-white kitten out of the box.

“Oh my God. How did you know I wanted a cat?”

“You talked about it before our first date, when you stripped down during my video chat with my boss.”

“I didn’t think you were paying attention.”

“As distracting as you were, I make it an effort to listen to the things that make you happy. But, if you aren’t sure you really want one, I could keep it here and it could be my cat.”

Noel snuggled the kitten into her chest, stroking its head. “Are you seriously talking about keeping my birthday present?”

“No, he’s yours.”

Noel climbed to her feet and kissed him while the kitten purred against her chest.

“Thank you.”

“I have one last surprise.”

“I don’t know how you’re going to top this.”

“Come into the kitchen with me.”

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