They all laughed at once. Even Noah couldn’t help laughing.

“Box with the ball?” Roni asked.

To Noah’s surprise Rita was the one who jumped in to explain as she continued to laugh. “We played this game where they tie this empty tissue box to your behind with a ping pong ball in it.” She paused to laugh, shaking her head, her hand over her mouth. “And you’re supposed to shake your ass, jump, wiggle, whatever it takes until the ball comes out of the hole. It’s timed so whoever does it fastest wins. Everyone did until it was my dad’s turn and when the music started and all eyes were on him he starts swaying his hips all sexy instead.”

“It was hilarious!” Pria said. “We always play all kinds of silly games like that. It’s so much fun. You should come with Noah this year.”

“Yeah, bring her, Noah,” Rita added. “You’ll laugh your butt off,” she said this to Roni. “And,” she rolled her eyes, “usually at my dad’s silly antics. But it’s all in fun.”

“I… uh.” Roni glanced back at Noah.

Knowing she had nowhere else to be on the twenty-fourth and most likely not on Christmas day either, he answered for her before she could think of an excuse. “I’ll bring her.”

Probably because everyone was watching, Roni just smiled and nodded. “Sure, sounds like fun.”

Noah smiled satisfied but could only hope she wasn’t mad that he’d put her on the spot like that. With everyone staring at her how could she possibly say no?

It’s crazy how things work out some times. Noah had started the evening dreading that Roni and Rita would be in the same room and partially due to Rita, he’d now be spending his Christmas Eve with Roni. He expected Rita to be pleasant and unlike most girls he knew she wouldn’t be catty about seeing him with another girl. That just wasn’t her. What he didn’t expect was Roni’s change in mood once she realized Rita was there. Sure, she’d agreed to Christmas Eve, but even now as they walked to her car Noah got the strange feeling she might just take it back.

CHAPTER 15

Don’t say it. Don’t go there. “So that’s the Rita uh?

Ugh! She was so weak! The second Veronica heard Rita’s name and realized this was the girl who Noah had been with so recently and would probably be with again real soon her insides were on fire. She’d never been that type of girl but as much as she tried, she could not stop looking at her. She’d nearly lost her appetite all at once and had to force herself to eat while trying not to stare at Rita.

“Um, yeah.” Noah shifted in the passenger seat. Veronica had sensed his discomfort at the restaurant as well.

“She seems nice.” She really had—too nice.

“She is,” Noah said glancing out the window.

“She’s pretty.” If you liked the overly made up type with massive tits.

Veronica could almost imagine those huge things bouncing above Noah as Rita rode him hard. This time Veronica was the one who looked out her window grinding her teeth and squeezing her eyes shut. Stop it.

“I guess.”

Noah was obviously not going to willingly contribute to this conversation but for some stupid reason Veronica couldn’t drop it. She should. She really should especially after coming to the conclusion that Noah’s feelings for her were passing the friendship line and she had to put a stop to it. She’d already made a conscious decision to start pulling away. But her insides were still boiling just thinking about him and Rita and where he might be spending his free time now that she was in town.

“So I guess you two will be hanging out, now that she’s here for the holidays right?” And her stupidity continued.

Noah shifted again in his seat and he cleared his throat. “I don’t know. We didn’t talk about it or anything. Probably not.”

Veronica chuckled. It came out sounding a little more sarcastic and louder than she expected to.

“What?” Noah asked turning to her.

Veronica backpedaled feeling like an idiot. She shrugged. “Nothing.”

“That didn’t sound like nothing.”

She stared ahead not wanting to look at him. Let it go. Say you were thinking of something else. “It’s just that well… you know. After what Hector said the other day. I’m pretty sure you’ll make the time.” Why did she never listen to that little voice of reason?

“Once you get to know Hector a little better you’ll know that half the stuff that comes out of his mouth is bullshit.”

Finally, she forced herself to do the right thing and change the subject but not before rolling her eyes. “Listen about Christmas Eve—”

“Unless you have other plans you’re going Roni. I don’t want you home alone.”

“But—”

“If you don’t go I’ll stay home with you.”

Veronica frowned as she pulled into her driveway. She’d agreed to go but had every intention of getting out of it. Noah and Rita hadn’t gotten so much as a moment alone at the dinner much less done anything cozy, but Veronica knew now without a doubt it wasn’t something she’d want to be witness to. There would likely be drinking involved on Christmas Eve and an atmosphere that might allow for more interaction between them but she couldn’t have him stay home on her account.

They both got out of the car and headed for the front door. “Noah, you can’t do that. It’s just that I’d feel more comfortable if I stayed home. Those are your friends. Just because I’m your roommate—”