Page 79 of Nick and Noel's Christmas Playlist

“I think she’s embracing her sexuality. It’s the twenty-first century. Slut shaming is a little outdated, don’t you think?”

Noel cocked her head to the side, surprised. Maybe Yancy grew up.

“Please, after telling me how much better she is than me and then I see her getting cozy with Trip? She can kiss my ass.” Noel peeked through the slit in the stall door and watched Amber blot her lips with a pop. “I still can’t believe Gabby is friends with her. Although, if I’m being honest, Gabby hasn’t ever been the brightest bulb. I love her, but it’s true.”

Noel opened the stall and stepped out, scowling at Amber. “You want to say that again?”

Amber turned, a sly smile on her lips. “Look who’s creeping around in the bathroom. Just like in high school. Doesn’t surprise me though. You’ve always been a piece of shit. You should feel very comfortable here.”

“If you’re talking about when I used to hide in the bathroom to avoid you, then who’s the real shit? By the way, the correct answer is you.”

“You always play the victim, but when you act like you’re better than everyone else, you’re going to get taken down a peg or two.”

Noel’s jaw dropped. “Are you for real? I’ve never thought I was better than anyone. In all honesty, I don’t give two fucks what you think or say about me. But you don’t get to sit around talking shit about Gabby. She’s defended you way too many times and deserves better.”

“Maybe we should go,” Yancy said, trying to pull Amber toward the door.

She shook off her friend with a sneer. “No way. I’m not scared of her. I don’t care if she is former military. She bitched out, anyway.”

“I didn’t bitch out. I just didn’t reenlist. Stop talking shit about things you don’t understand. Like Gabby. She isn’t stupid. She is an amazing and loyal friend.”

“It’s not talking shit if it’s the truth. Only an idiot would hang with you.”

Noel’s voice dropped to a hoarse whisper. “Interesting. Guess that includes Nick, too?”

“I didn’t say it, but he went from me to you.” The disgusted look Amber trailed from Noel’s toes ended with her staring Noel in the face. “Definitely a downgrade.”

Noel stepped into Amber. “Keep talking about the people I love and you’re going to need another nose job.”

Fear flashed in Amber’s eyes before she laughed it off. “Please, I won my first pageant when I was a year old. I can take you anytime.”

Noel picked up the lipstick Amber left on the counter and opened it. Twirling it all the way open, she glared at Amber.

“Oh, no!” Amber cried, mockingly. “Are you going to ruin my lipstick? Stupid bitch, I always have a back—”

Amber screamed as Noel dragged the cherry-red cosmetic from Amber’s temple to her chin. Amber’s hands flailed at her sides as Noel destroyed the rest of it against the front of Amber’s white halter top.

“Is this silk? That’s gonna be a bitch to clean.” Noel dropped the tube on the floor and gave the wide eyed Yancy a little wave. “Have a good night.”

Noel popped out to find a startled waiter standing outside the bathroom, glancing from the closed bathroom door to Noel.

“Is everything okay? I heard screaming.”

“Oh yeah,” Noel said, all smiles. “Just a little makeup malfunction. She’ll live.”

The waiter nodded, continuing into the men’s room. Noel stopped by the kitchen and grabbed her food, enjoying the pep in her step. Taking the long way around the restaurant, she popped outside into the freezing cold. In her hurry, she’d forgotten her coat, but there was no way she’d go back for it now. She’d rather freeze to death than listen to Trip’s narcissistic drivel or have another run-in with Amber. She could kick herself for agreeing to meet Trip tonight. Such a mistake.

Maybe she shouldn’t be so hard on Nick about Amber. Sometimes you try to give people the benefit of the doubt and it bites you in the ass.

Noel was pulling out of the parking lot when she saw the glass door of the restaurant swing open and Trip standing on the walkway. His head swiveled back and forth, searching for her, and she took off like a shot, headed for home. Her phone blew up next to her, blasting an old Justin Timberlake song repeatedly until Noel finally turned it on silent.

What the heck was happening in her life? Drama didn’t normally factor in it, yet for the last two weeks, it had been nothing but. Her life had become a rating-seeking reality show and she half expected Nick Lachey to jump out from the shadows like, “Gotcha! You’re on my new reality show, Crazy in a Small Town!”

Over it. That’s how she felt. She’d lock herself in her apartment and refuse to come out if one more thing happened.

She climbed the stairs to her apartment and found a box sitting on the front porch. She opened it up and used her phone flashlight to study the contents. Pictures of Amber and Nick, a bottle of cologne, a T-shirt, and a tiny cactus with a bow. There was a white envelope with Nick’s name on it. Didn’t take a genius to know who’d left it and Noel doubted she’d mistakenly set it on Noel’s doorstep. She should have broken Amber’s nose instead of ruining her shirt.

Noel picked up the box and stomped three doors down to Nick’s new apartment. After this morning, she’d planned on giving him space. Not now though. There was no way this box was going inside her apartment.

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