Page 10 of A Not So Merry Kiss-mas
“I’m not looking for a relationship,” I snorted.
“Sometimes it’s not aboutlooking, dear. Thank you again for checking in on me. You and Michael are the best neighbors Samuel could’ve hoped for me to be surrounded by.”
She winked and closed the door, leaving me with my jaw hanging agape.
It’s not that I don’t think Michael is a good person; it’s just that I’m not interested in finding a man. Good or otherwise. But if I had any doubts about his character, Mrs. Fletcher’s spidey-senses for these things would’ve quelled them.
Mrs. F’s words and Michael’s actions at the coffee shop are still floating in my head as I reach my apartment and start to turn the key in the lock; my purse vibrates. I push the door open, juggling my coffee and keys, my phone wedged between my shoulder and ear as I try to nudge the door shut with my foot.
“Noelle, what’s up?” I ask, placing the coffee on the table and letting my purse fall to the floor, while turning to grab my key and close the door. “Are you on your way here?”
“Yes. But instead of coming up, we’re going out.” My hand freezes just as the rim of the coffee cup hits my bottom lip. “You need to go shopping for a dress, and I won’t take no for an answer.”
Dragging myself over to the couch, I plop down—already exhausted thinking about shopping. “But then I won’t be able to show you the letter.”
“Is it too big to fit in your purse?” Noelle quips, and I groan. “You need to get out of the house,” she continues. “And I’m positive you don’t have a dress to wear for the party.”
“I have dresses,” I mumble back, only to have Noelle’s giggles ring through the speaker.
She’s right, I don’t have any date-worthy dresses for a party. As much as I’m regretting saying yes to meeting Cole’s best friend, I want to look good.
I still have pride after all.
“Bring the letter with you, we’ll go shopping, and then get lunch.” Her excitement is infectious, and I feel the tightness around my chest lifting. “It will be like old times.”
“Fiiinne,” I whine, fighting the smile that’s trying to split my face.
“You know I can still hear the little grin that’s crossing your lips, right?”
“Yes, and it’s irksome!” I snort, shaking my head at how well my best friend knows me. I’m excited to get to see her. I’ve missed her. “How long before you get here?”
“A few minutes tops.”
Glancing down at my scrubs, I sigh. Guess that shower will have to wait.
“Show me the letter,” Noelle says, the moment I get in her red Volkswagen Beetle with “Jingle Bells”playing through the speakers. Her grin is infectious, and her eyes sparkle with mischief, and I feel the corner of my mouth tip up in response.
“It’s nice to see you missed me, too,” I tease, placing the envelope in her flat palm shoved in my face.
She rolls her eyes before focusing all of her attention on the manila paper in her hand. Noelle lifts it to her nose, brows knitted, and asks, “Is that gingerbread?”
“That was my first thought, too.” My eyebrows shoot up, and I nod. “I dismissed it, though, thinking it was from the clove and nutmeg coffee my neighbor brought me.”
“Wait!” Noelle’s head whips so hard toward me, I’m not sure how she didn’t give herself whiplash. “Theannoying neighbor brought you coffee? The way you like it?”
“Only because Mrs. Fletcher—”
“Your elderly neighbor?” I don’t like the mischievous grin that’s lighting her face.
“Told him how I liked my coffee,” I continue, picking at lint on my coat sleeve, but I can still feel Noelle’s gaze burning the side of my cheek. “What?! I was only up because he was playing Bon Jovi. Again.”
Her mouth falls open, and her eyes glitter with playfulness. “But you love Bon Jovi—”
“Not blasting through my wall and scaring me half to death!” A cackle floats across the car, and I turn to glare at her. Eyes still wide, she clamps her lips together and slowly nods at me. “It wasn’t funny. You know how I hate being startled.” I cross my arms and pull my brows together, and grimace.
“Interesting,” Noelle hums. “Well, maybe if things don’t work out with Mike—”
“No! Don’t even say it.” I stare at her from under my lashes, giving my best scowl. “There’s no remote possibility I would consider dating him. Not even if we were the last people on earth.”
