Page 66 of Small Town Boy

“With your busy week, is there a day that works better than others? Or not at all?”

I think for a moment, running through my schedule. There’s nothing preventing me from doing dinner any night this week, other than potential exhaustion from the workday. Which means it comes down to which meetings are least likely to leave me in a bad mood.

“Friday? I don’t want to take over their weekend, so if they have regular Friday plans, then that’s fine. But Willa made it a mandatory half day because we’re going cake tasting for Kenzie’s wedding.”

“Cake tasting? As much as I love that you’re part of the tribe now, I would have thought Dustin would be doing that with her.”

Part of the tribe. My heart squeezes, happiness filling it. I love that it makes him happy. Even more than that, I love that those three women have opened their circle to me. After Marie, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to ever open up again. I believed that deep female friendships were a myth. Kenzie, Sylvie, and Willa are quickly proving that wrong though.

“I guess he’s in Nashville and Atlanta this week, and told her as long as it’s not something so fancy that you guys won’t eat it, he doesn’t care. So the four of us are going to Oh, My Lard! and eating cake all afternoon.”

“Is there gonna be room for dinner? I don’t know that I trust you four in a bakery for a whole afternoon.”

Noel playfully gives me the side-eye, and I don’t know if I want to smack him or kiss him. Probably both.

“If that’s the night we’re going to eat with your parents, then I will make sure to save room for dinner.”

“I’ll let Mama know. And also make sure she doesn’t make a cake for dessert.”

“How about I bring dessert? I’ll be at the bakery, so I can pick something up.”

“Sure, if you want. But don’t feel like you have to. Nash and I show up empty-handed all the time.”

I nod. “I can’t do that my first time. I want to contribute. Just like tonight, you cooked, so I got the dishes.”

“Nope!” he declares, standing up. He nods at my plate, silently asking if I’m done. I nod, trying to pick it up myself, but he’s faster than I am. “We don’t do dishes.”

“We? You say that like some magic fairy comes in and does them in your sleep.”

“That’s exactly what happens. A fairy named Nash.”

I shift in my chair, because now I’m very confused.

“Nash is going to do the dishes? He didn’t even eat with us.”

Noel shrugs. “House rules. Nash does all the dishes. Doesn’t matter who made the mess, he does them. More than an even swap for him never having to clean a toilet.”

That’s more than a fair trade in my mind. If anything, Nash got the better end of the deal. I would gladly do all the dishes for the rest of my life as well to never have to clean another bathroom. Making a mental note to work that into my own future deal, I watch as Noel cleans up, putting away the leftovers and placing the dirty dishes in the sink to wait on his brother.

I must have a guilty look on my face though, because Noel gives me a scrutinizing glare, like he’s trying to read my thoughts. My very private thoughts about making him play Cinderella for the rest of our life.

“Just what is going on in that brain of yours?”

“Nothing!” I lie. I need to change the subject, or else he’s going to find a way to get it out of me. “So, you said you guys bought this place a few years ago?”

“Four…ish? First year we turned a real profit with the landscaping company. Dustin didn’t want the seed money back, so we decided to buy a house. Mrs. Barrowcliff was selling because her son wanted her to move up to Atlanta to be closer to him, so Nash and I made her an offer and here we are.”

“Someday I’ll get all these names straight.”

Taking my hand, he pulls me out of the chair and picks me up in one fell swoop. I feel as light as a feather as he lifts me, hands cupping my ass perfectly. Wrapping myself around him like a koala, I don’t hold back, leaning in and pressing my lips to his. Noel doesn’t hold back either, deepening our kiss, seeking out my tongue with his. I swear the lights flicker when they meet, the electricity surrounding us making the air crackle. Being with Noel like this sets my soul on fire.

I finally get what my girl Taylor Swift is talking about when she says she sees sparks fly. Because that’s exactly what happens every time Noel smiles. And kisses me.

Not breaking our embrace, Noel walks us over to the couch, depositing us there. Our combined weight makes us sink into the cushions, and Noel tightens his grip on me. We stay like this for a long time, making out like two teenagers who can’t control themselves, trying to get in as much kissing as they can before they’re walked in on.

Which sparks a thought in me.

“Nash.”