Page 87 of Nick and Noel's Christmas Playlist

“Give ’em. Those were expensive and my favorite pair.”

“Fine.” Nick handed them to her and watched her stuff them in her pocket. “Now, the two of us were discussing a date a few moments ago. I would like to solidify this idea.”

Noel chuckled, leaning against Nick, her arms wrapping around his shoulders. “I’ll go out with you.”

“That was easier than I thought it would be.”

“I’m still freaking out.”

Nick tucked a strand of hair behind her ear gently. “Why don’t we make this our trial date?”

“Trial date?”

“Yeah. Eat some food. Talk. I’ll walk you to your door after and kiss you goodnight?”

“Oh, so we aren’t going to…pick up where we left off?”

He noted the clear disappointment on her face and his chest puffed up. “I’m not going to say no, but I think we should dial it back.” Even as he said the words, his dick flexed angrily. But if he was going to go there with Noel, he wanted it to be more than a passionate fuck against the wall. He wanted to take things slow. Make love to her. Show her what they have could be so much more than friendship.

“Fine,” she pouted.

“Grab your food and we’ll go to my bedroom.” Her face perked up and he groaned. “Not for that! It’s the only surface not covered in boxes and crap.”

Noel huffed as she picked up her bag, although the hint of a smile told him she wasn’t really mad. Maybe disappointed, but hey, he felt the same way.

Nick grabbed two cokes from his ice chest, slipped his bag of food over one arm and followed her down the hall. He set the cans on the nightstands on either side of his bed. He hopped on one side, while she climbed up and sat cross legged on the other.

“Now what?”

“I’d say we could watch a movie, but I haven’t hooked up my TV yet. Why don’t we play a game?”

Noel popped the top of her soda, watching him dubiously. “A game?”

“Yeah, like when we were kids. Let’s play two truths and a lie, but it can only be things that have happened in the last eight years. That way, there will be a little mystery.”

“All right.”

Nick opened his container of food, salivating over the rice, beans, and carne asada burrito his parents snagged him. “Mmmmm.”

“Hey hey, eyes up here. This was your idea so you go first.”

He took the utensils from the bag and cut a bite off. He could tell she was ready to throttle him. When he finally swallowed, he said, “I hated writing letters to everyone while I was deployed. One of the guys in my squad had three girlfriends. And I got a tattoo nobody knows about.”

Nick ate his burrito in silence, checking on her thoughtful expression. After several beats, she finally set her taco down and pointed, “You didn’t get a tat.”

“Ehhh. I did.”

“Wait, where?”

Nick grinned. “Maybe I’ll show it to you sometime.”

“Tease.”

“Yup.” He took a massive bite, chewed, and finally swallowed. “Your turn.”

“Wait, what was the lie, then?”

“The guy in my squad had four girlfriends. Not three.”

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