Loving Noel (Wildcat Graduates Book 1) Read online

  “Awe, is little Liam all lonely and jealous since he’s still the only ball player that can’t get a girl to date him,” Cade taunts him. Cade keeps moving until Liam is standing directly under the cup of water Kevin is holding.

  Cade stops tossing the ball and asks, “Is it getting hot in here? You look a little sweaty, man. You might need to cool off.” He smiles at Liam and slightly nods his head toward Kevin who is now joined by Cole and Mark. Before Liam can answer the question, the cup is overturned and all of its contents are poured all over Liam’s head and body, causing everyone in sight to laugh hysterically. Liam is completely emotionless as we laugh at him, his face showing nothing but complete shock. I am surprised by how little water actually got on the floor. That’s rather impressive.

  We are able to finish up practice without any further pranks or mishaps, and leave The Dugout in time for dinner. We make plans for another day to practice before everyone leaves the building. Cade and I follow the guys out to the parking lot, staying a little behind them.

  “Do you and Xana have anything planned for New Year’s Eve,” Cade asks as he shifts his bat bag to the other shoulder.

  “I’m not really sure. We haven’t seen them since before we left, and we missed Christmas with them, so I’d like to do something kind of special, ya know?”

  “Yeah, I do,” Cade replies, leaving us to finish our walk in silence. Just as we reach our cars, he stops and breaks our silence.

  “Hey,” Cade says causing me to turn toward him and lean against the driver’s door of my car, my arms and ankles crossed. Seeing he has my attention, Cade continues, “Jason said his parents were letting him have a small New Year’s Eve party at his house. They’re chaperoning, of course, but you know they are pretty relaxed and will mostly leave us alone, unless things get out of control.” I nod in agreement and Cade continues. “We could go out to dinner before going to his party.”

  “Don’t you think everyone will have the same idea about eating out and every place will be full?” I frown over at him, causing him to pause briefly before giving me his solution.

  “Yeah, but a lot of people go out at the regular time to eat, so if we went later, the crowds should be thinned out a lot by then. Besides, we have until midnight if we need to wait a little while,” Cade reasons as he leans against his car, parked beside mine.

  “That sounds like a plan. I’ll talk to Xana about it when she gets home tonight. What time did Stacy say they’d be back? Xan didn’t really know when they would be leaving.” I begin unlocking my door so I can get in the warmth of the car. Damn, it’s cold outside. Remote start is a wonderful thing.

  Cade moves around to the driver’s side of his car as well. “They should be home soon. Her grandparents didn’t want to drive in the dark if possible.” Cade looks at me over the top of his car, and we say our goodbyes before heading home. I can’t wait to see Xana. I need to hold her, to smell her. I’m so grateful she didn’t fall for that bullshit Mercedes pulled with my phone. I know there’s only so much a girl like Xana can put up with before she breaks.

  Xana called me after dinner the night she got home from Texas. She was exhausted from the drive and went to bed early. It killed me to not go over there and see her. Knowing she was across town and unavailable after more than a week apart nearly drove me mad. Nothing feels right when we’re apart like that. I’ve liked her for more than a year, and now that we’re finally together, I can’t imagine being without her.

  Cade and I pick the girls up at eight and meet at Chili’s for a late dinner. When we arrive at the restaurant, the crowd has thinned considerably and we aren’t left to wait for very long before we are seated at a table. Xana’s long blue sweater, belted around the middle with a silver sequined ribbon belt, accentuates her curves as much as the black leggings she is wearing under it. She really is beautiful. I can’t keep my eyes off her, and Cade has to kick my leg under the table when I don’t hear the waitress ask me for my drink order.

  We talk about our Christmases and trips while we wait for our meals to arrive. Stacy’s stories about her cousins have everyone in stitches, except for Xana. Apparently she was the brunt of their practical jokes and isn’t in any hurry to relive the experiences. Stacy finally takes a hint and moves the subject away from Xana. We are all too involved in our conversation to notice our food has arrived. The meal is very good, and the girls order desserts to share with us. Xana seems to like feeding me her molten chocolate cake, but I love feeding it to her more. The way she closes her eyes when she slides her mouth off of the spoon nearly does me in. Feeding her might be my new favorite thing to do.

  Jason’s house is down the street from where Cade lives, so we drop off his car there and drive mine to Jason’s house. Normally, we would just walk to his house, but since the weather outside is very cold, we can’t make the girls walk that far.

  There are only about twenty people at Jason’s house when we get there. His parents have a fairly large enclosed sun porch that they have set up for us to use. White Christmas lights are strung across the ceiling and throughout the potted plants his mother has in there. There are multi-colored streamers and balloons mixed in with the lights. Many people have on party hats or those paper glasses that have the year for lenses. Jason’s mom has really gone all out on the snacks and drinks. There is a table full of food, and several coolers with drinks sit beside it. A large flat screen television is mounted on the wall that leads back into the house. Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve Countdown 2012- 2013 is playing on the screen.

  Erika takes Stacy and Xana over to the other side of the room where the floor has been cleared out to make room for anyone who wants to dance. One Republic begins to perform ‘Secrets’ and the girls jump right in and begin to dance as they sing along. Their enthusiasm is contagious, causing a few more people to join in and dance. Cade and I are left to talk to Jason and Shawn and his date, Kara. Everyone else is talking in smaller groups, laughing and having a great time. The girls coax Cade and me into dancing a few times, their excited smiles giving us no chance to refuse them anything. Seeing Stacy and Xana having such a good time and smiling so widely could make even the grumpiest person smile. They both have that way about them that sucks people into their happiness. Xana’s smile really lights up a room, and heaven help me when she turns that smile upon me.

  Jason’s mom had prepared more than enough food for everyone. The fact that there was still plenty of food by eleven thirty shocked me. There were always a few people at the food table, making me wonder where it all came from. Even though Cade and I ate a large meal before we came, we have had our fair share of the food here.

  The closeness of the countdown on television has everyone even more excited and getting their party hats and streamers ready for the ball to drop in Times Square. Xana and Stacy are wearing those paper glasses that have the lenses in the shape of the year, 2013. They’re all black and have gold glitter around them. Stacy even has on one of the matching top hats, making it hard for Cade not to crack jokes about it. The two of them, along with half of the people here, are singing along with the performing band on the countdown.

  Stacy and Cade have moved closer to the dance floor to talk to Jason and Erika, while I sit in one of the overstuffed floral print chairs over by the French doors that lead inside, waiting for Xana to come back from the bathroom. Midnight is in a few minutes and everyone is intently watching the countdown on the flat screen, couples beginning to stand closer together. Xana returns from the bathroom, minus the silly glasses, and comes to sit sideways in my lap, her arms draped around my neck and shoulders. Placing my drink on the small side table next to the chair, I wrap my arms around her waist and pull her to me, my thumbs making small circles on her side.

  Everyone is crowded around the television as they begin the countdown, while I keep Xana in my lap. As the time strikes midnight, I pull Xana’s face toward mine for a kiss. Xana shifts her body so that she is facing me more, and I slide one hand under he
r hair to grab the base of her neck. Her hands move up to run through my hair, driving me crazy. Damn, I love it when she does that. We are interrupted when someone kicks my leg and clears their throat. Xana and I look to see who is trying to get our attention, only to find Stacy pointing her cell phone at us to take our picture.

  “Say cheese, you two!” Xana leans her cheek into mine and we both smile for the camera. I think Stacy loves to take pictures more than my own mother does. Cade and I have just learned to pick our battles and humor her.

  Stacy takes our picture, and pulls a resigned Cade along with her as she takes photos of other people. I pull out my own phone and take a selfie of the two of us. Just as I get the camera focused on us, Xana turns my face toward hers and kisses me. Clicking the button, I take a few pictures while I kiss her back. Before I can put the phone back in my pocket, Xana grabs it from me to look at the pictures; I didn’t think her smile could get any bigger. Before I know it, she has them sent to her phone, and is handing the phone back to me.

  “I take it they were good pictures,” I ask her as I place the phone in my pocket.

  Leaning in to kiss my cheek she says, “Best selfie ever.” I meet her mouth with mine before she can kiss my cheek, pulling her body into my chest. I pull away enough to place a kiss on top of her nose.

  “Happy New Year, Sweetness,” I whisper, making her smile.

  “Happy New Year, Handsome,” she breathes as her hand moves to cup my face. Before we can say anything else, Stacy comes back to where we are sitting and drags a reluctant Xana off for one last dance. Cade takes the chair next to me and sighs.

  “Stacy is like the Energizer bunny. Where does she get all of that energy from?” Cade asks as he looks across the room at Stacy as she dances to the latest band performing.

  “Beats me man, but that’s your problem, not mine,” I tease him and he just shakes his head.

  As soon as the dance is over, the girls make their way back to us and are ready to head home. We all make our way over to Jason and Erika to say we are leaving and thank him for inviting us. As we leave, we find his parents in the kitchen and thank them as well for allowing us to come over.

  I drop Stacy and Cade off at his house to pick up his car before taking Xana home. I half expect Mike to be waiting on her in the driveway when we get to her house, but I guess he’s off with his friends instead. He’s not that bad really, but it sure irritates Xan when he’s waiting outside to harass her. I’d never tell her, but it is kind of funny.

  “You looked beautiful tonight,” I say as I move a stray curl from her face, my other hand holding hers.

  “You’re not so bad yourself, Handsome.” Xana’s face blushes and she casts her eyes downward. Smiling, I raise her chin with my fingers and lean forward to kiss her. I keep the kiss brief because I have a feeling that any minute her dad will open the door to end the night.

  “I’ll talk to you tomorrow, okay,” I ask as I hold her hands in mine.

  “Okay. I had a great time. Thank you,” she says as she smiles up at me.

  “I did, too. Goodnight, Sweetness,” I say as I kiss her forehead and walk to my car. I wait until she goes inside before I leave in disbelief that she’s finally my girlfriend.

  Christmas break is over in two days, and I am ready to get back to school on Monday so I can see more of Xana. Xana and Stacy have been helping out at the public library where Stacy’s grandmother works. Several workers have taken some time off for the holidays and the girls have been filling in by re-shelving books. Between helping my dad out with some of the bank properties and baseball practice, I’ve been pretty busy and haven’t seen Xana very much since New Year’s Eve.

  It’s Saturday, and Cade and I have just finished working out with the guys. We’ve gotten a lot accomplished over the break and are anxious for ball practices to officially start. As Cade and I walk to our cars, my phone rings and I don’t recognize the number.

  Cade sees my confusion and looks over at the screen, and doesn’t recognize the number either. “I have no idea who that number belongs to. Just answer it.”

  Rolling my eyes at him, I answer the phone, “Hello?” Cade leans against his car and crosses his arms and ankles while he listens.

  “Hey Noel, it’s Mercedes,” she chirps across the line. Cade mouths ‘who is it?’ when I look at the phone and frown.

  “Hey, Mercedes,” I answer and Cade stands straighter, eyebrows raised in a silent question. “What’s going on?” I shake my head at Cade and shrug my shoulders in response to his unspoken question. I have no idea why she would be calling me, much less why she has my number, because I sure didn’t give it to her.

  “Weeell, Jessica’s parents are throwing her a birthday party tonight and we thought you and Cade might like to come. So, what do you think? Do you two want to come? Please?” she asks in a pleading voice. By this time, Cade has moved to stand beside me and has heard everything she has said. He immediately starts shaking his head in refusal, and glares at me. What the hell is her game? She knows I’m dating Xana, and Cade is dating Stacy. Hell, they’ve been dating longer than we have.

  “Thanks for the offer, but Cade and I already have plans with Xana and Stacy. We’d have to check with them first to see if they’d like to go to the party instead.” Cade looks at me like I’ve lost my mind, ‘What the hell, man?’ he whispers to me. I shake my head at him and shrug my shoulders.

  “Oh, okay,” she replies, her voice not a cheerful as before. “Well, it starts at seven and lasts until at least ten. You know where Jessica lives, right?”

  “No, but Cade probably does,” I inform her and sidestep Cade as he tries to hit me on the arm.

  “Oh, yeah, maybe he does. Well, you can call me if you need directions or anything else, and you two are more than welcome to come by yourselves if they don’t want to come,” her voice, once again, cheerful and sweet.

  “Well, we’ll see what the girls want to do. Thanks for the invite. I’ve gotta run. Bye.”

  “Okay, bye,” she barely gets out before I hang up. I release a long breath and shake my head in amazement as Cade steps in front of me.

  “Can you tell me what the hell that was all about? Why does she have your phone number, man? Why is she inviting only us to Jessica’s party? You know she didn’t want the girls to go, right,” Cade fires out questions too fast for me to answer.

  “Calm the hell down. Give me a chance to answer before shooting more questions at me! First off, yes, I know she wasn’t planning on the girls going. That much was obvious by the tone of her voice. Second, I’m not sure why she wants us to go to Jessica’s party. It’s not like we ever hang out or anything. And third, I have no idea whatsoever how she has my phone number because I have never given it to her, but the more I think about it, I bet she got it from my phone when we were in Colorado. She had it half of the day, remember?”

  “Yeah, I remember. I’ve told you she is trouble waiting to happen. Do you believe me now?” Cade asks me as he throws his gym bag into his car.

  “I know you don’t like her or trust her, but I don’t think this was anything other than a simple invitation to a party,” I explain as I put my bag in the car as well.

  “You’re delusional. She’s trying to get to you. Are you seriously thinking of going to that party? Do you really think the girls are going to want to go to that party? Because if you do, you’re dumber than I thought.” Cade leans against the hood of his car and looks at me, frowning.

  “You should know me better than that, Cade. I know Xana and Stacy won’t want to go, but I can’t just be rude to her. We go to a lot of the bank functions with our dads, so I have to be nice to her. I can’t just tell her off like you want me to. My dad would kick my ass for being so rude, and trust me, he would find out about it.”

  “I guess you’re right, but there’s something about her I don’t trust. I can’t help it, but I do know you need to be up front with Xana about her calling you,” Cade argues before opening his car do
or.

  “I’m not hiding anything from her because there’s nothing to hide. I didn’t give her my number, nor would I ever want to. Surely people know by now that Xana and I are dating. It’s not like my relationship with Xana is hidden, by her or by me. Chill the hell out, man,” I warn him before I walk to the driver’s side of my car and open the door. We end the conversation and Cade apologizes for being such a jerk. I understand his concern, but there’s nothing to worry about with Mercedes. She is a non-issue.

  That night, Cade, Stacy, Xana and I went to Lights Up Mini Golf inside the mall. It’s really a lot of fun and the black lights make almost everything glow. Xana’s fingernails were glowing because of the glitter nail polish she uses. Even the golf clubs were made to react to the black light. We’re all having too much fun and don’t really care who wins, except for Stacy. Just like everything she does, she’s playing to win. She’s so focused on her aim, she’s not paying any attention to the fact we’re just hitting the ball around.

  Cade and I told the girls about the invitation from Mercedes, and needless to say, the party wasn’t even considered. Stacy was livid at the mere fact Mercedes thought we’d go without them, but Xana didn’t have much to say about it. I could tell she was more upset than she was letting on, but decided to drop the subject and lighten the mood. With Cade teasing Stacy while she was trying to putt, it wasn’t hard to get her laughing. He drew Xana into his teasing, almost as if he knew she was keeping something to herself. They really do have a strange brother-sister type relationship without even trying.