Noah groaned into his hands. “Okay, fine. It’s about Eli.”
Mark leaned forward, and Liam placed his hand on Noah’s shoulder.
“We—” Noah stammered. “We slept together.”
Mark blinked. “Are wereallytalking a sleepover, or are you too much of a prude to come out and say you had sex?”
“Fine. We had sex. More than once, if you must know.”
They both broke into proud smiles.
“Well, well, well,” Mark said. “Mr. Carter is going to have a spicy Christmas.”
“It wasn’t spicy,” Noah protested. “It was—God, it waseverything. It was good. It was really good.”
“Then why do you look like someone told you Christmas was canceled?” Liam asked, his voice gentle.
“I’m a little overwhelmed, that’s all.”
Mark lifted his brows. “By the sex? I guess it reallywasspicy.”
“Mark,” Liam said with a sigh.
“No, it’s fine,” Noah muttered. “And yes. Well—no, not exactly. It wasn’t just sex. It felt…” He hesitated. “As if it meant something.”
“And that terrifies you,” Liam finished. It wasn’t a question.
Noah thanked God for providing good friends who knew him, balls to bones.
He nodded. “I don’t want to mess this up.” His voice cracked, and he set his mug down, his hands trembling. “What if I ruin it?”
Mark’s smile immediately softened. “Oh, honey.”
Liam shifted closer. “Talk to us.”
Noah swallowed hard, staring at his fingers.
“We both said we should take things slow. And I want that. But we weren’t slow last night. Or the night before. Then he told me he’s falling for me which should have me dancing like a fool, because I’m in the same boat.”
Mark’s face split into a grin. “Finally.”
Liam stared at him. “Stop celebrating, you vulture.” He smiled too, however.
“But I keep thinking…” Noah leaned forward. “What if he wakes up one day and realizes I’m too much? Or not enough? What if he changes his mind? What if I’ve read him wrong?”
Liam squeezed Noah’s knee. “Noah. Tyler didn’t leave because of you. He left because he wanted something else. Something bigger. Something not-small-town. That wasn’t about you. Stop punishing yourself for something that wasn’t your failure.”
“But what if Eli wants that too?” Noah’s voice cracked once more. “He lives in Boston. He has a whole life there. I’m—” He laughed weakly. “I’m just Mapleford.”
“Excuse me.” Mark’s tone sharpened. “You’re notjustanything.”
“You’re Noah Carter,” Liam said. “The guy everyone in this town trusts with their kids and their festivals and their hearts. The guy who stayed because this place needs people like you.”
Noah blinked. Blinked again.
“You’ve grown,” Mark told him. “You’re not that heartbroken kid trying to patch a relationship alone anymore.”
“And Eli?” Liam continued. “I hear he walked through a whiteout storm to get to you.”
