Chapter 20 Noelle
Noelle
Monday comes before I’m ready for it. Like he said he would, Nick walked me home the next morning once the streets were clear and the snow had stopped.
I could tell something between us had shifted by the way he kissed me at my door before walking back to his cabin.
He glanced at me over his shoulder and winked before he was too far out of view, sending a fresh wave of jitters through me.
Oddly enough, Eve wasn’t home when I got there which was nice because it meant I didn’t need to worry about explaining where I was all night.
She texted me later in the day telling me she was spending the weekend with her parents which I was totally okay with.
Now that it’s a new week and we work at the same place, I’m bracing myself for the game of twenty questions she’s going to put me through.
Ready to get it over with, I step around the desk and head for the kitchen, smiling at guests who are bundled up for the fresh snow. It’s already snowing again, adding to the winter wonderland that the outdoors have become.
Winter.
Winters.
Noelle Winters.
‘What a good little wife you are.’
A stupid smile spreads across my face as I push the door open to the kitchen.
Half a dozen people flutter around making breakfast pastries to set out and prepping for lunch.
We’re busy enough throughout the day to offer all three meals.
The chaotic buzz around the kitchen is constant, as is the chaotic energy that follows our lead chef.
“Carefully, carefully, you’re whipping eggs not swatting a fly,” Eve snaps at someone with their hand around a mixing bowl.
She moves to another prep station and sticks her nose in the way of the line-cook who’s sautéing something.
“Did you add paprika to this? Why did you add paprika to this?” she asks, pinching her nose up at him when he nods. “Start over and follow the recipe I told you to follow, please. This isn’t Top Chef, you don’t get to make shit up as you go.”
When she sees me, she smiles before it falls instantly. Her whole face goes slack like she’s seen a ghost.
“Get out!” she shouts. Everyone in the kitchen turns and looks at her with question marks on their faces. “Was I speaking a foreign language? I said get out!”
I shake my head at her, confused why she’s throwing everyone out of the kitchen at the sight of me.
“Thank you, sorry. You’re all doing great.
Thanks for all your hard work. I’ll come get you when we’re done.
” She peppers her staff with compliments and a smile as they leave.
I make sure to smile at them as they go so they know they’re not in trouble.
When they’re gone, she sets her hands on top of the prep table and takes a deep breath.
“You slept with him,” she states, dropping her head.
“What? How could you possibly know that?” I gawk. I double—no, triple—checked myself in the mirror this morning to make sure no one could tell that something has changed.
She lifts her head and stares at me. “A best friend knows these things, Noey. We just know.”
“What do you know?” Belle butts in, pushing through the kitchen door to join us. “Also, why is the entire staff sitting in the dining room looking like they’re about to be fired?”
“Noelle had sex with Nick,” Eve deadpans.
“What?” our friend squeaks, whipping her head to look at me.
“I—” Words fail me. Looking around, I take a seat on the stool in the corner. “We only fooled around—”
“That still counts,” Eve cuts me off.
“At first,” I finish. I bite down hard on my bottom lip, trying to fight the smile that forms as I recall the events of Friday night and early Saturday morning. Unable to stop myself, I cover my hand and begin to laugh.
“Come on, Noelle, give us the juicy details,” Belle practically begs, pushing herself up to sit on the counter.
“Hey, don’t sit your grimey ass on my counter,” Eve jests.
“Quiet you,” Belle barks back. “We’re talking about Noelle’s steamy weekend right now.”
I feel my cheeks enflame as they stare at me.
“Well I stayed at his place,” I start but am interrupted by Eve again.
“That was your first mistake.”
“Would you shut up and let me talk?”
She raises her hands and clamps her mouth shut.
“There was this whole thing that happened when we ran into Ms. Joy and he was going to take me home after dinner, then we started talking, and then…”
“Then you got down with your bad self,” Belle hums, looking at me with an evil smirk.
“No.” I look around the room to make sure no one is around to hear me. “First he went down on me in front of the fireplace and then we got down with our bad selves after I woke him up at one in the morning practically begging him to have sex with me.”
“Noelle!” Eve shrieks as Belle breaks out into another excited squeal.
“Well,” I say defensively. “When a hot man makes you dinner and you haven’t been laid in a few years and there’s a fireplace going…shit happens.”
“This is not the shit that’s supposed to happen,” Eve argues. She has her arms folded in front of her and is giving me a disapproving look. “This is the shit that leaves you with a broken heart just like before.”
“Eve, I’ve told you before that I will be fine. Seriously, it means nothing.”
“I’m sure it means nothing to him but I know it means everything to you. You never really got over him, Noey. Honestly, I think you’ve been pining over him ever since he left which is why you went to him first when you needed to find a fake husband.”
“Hey, I resent that comment. I’ve moved on, dated other people.”
“Yeah? For what, two weeks? Then you break it off and go back to moping around town until the next person comes along.”
My mouth falls open as I look between her and Belle. “I do not mope.”
“Well…” Belle says hesitantly.
“Belle,” I lament.
“I’m sorry, but you do kinda mope. That’s part of the reason I was so happy when you told me you and Nick were back together. You deserve to be happy. You work so hard here and do so much for the town. We just want you to be happy.”
“I am happy, that’s what I’m trying to tell you.”
“Fine.” It’s Eve who speaks this time. “Look us in the eye and tell us that what happened this weekend is only a one time thing.”
I look between the two of them and chew on the inside of my cheek. I don’t know if it’s a one time thing. I know it should be, but who’s to say what might happen over the next few weeks?
“What happened this weekend is only a one time thing.”
Not completely a lie but it could be.
“And look us in the eye and tell us that this thing with Nick is still only temporary.”
“This thing with Nick is still only temporary.”
Not a lie. As far as I know he’s still leaving after the holidays.
Eve stands and moves so she’s standing right in front of me, hands planted firmly on her hips.
“And look me in the eye and tell me that you don’t have feelings for him and you won’t fall for him completely all over again.”
I stare my best friend dead in the eyes and lie through my teeth.
“I do not have feelings for Nick nor will I fall for him completely again. I’m telling you, Eve, this was a one night thing, just a fling. You have nothing to worry about.”
Wow, now you’re lying to yourself and your friends. You know good and well that you never stopped loving him. And not only that, you’ve already fallen completely in love with him all over again.