Will he always be there for me? Because he’s made that promise before and it only led to me having my heart broken.
CHAPTER 20
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’tTop 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 thismorning 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.
