Naughty or Nice - Alexis Winter Page 0,11

We both burst out into song, singing along like we were kids again.

We get to the diner and step inside, greeted by a hostess that’s dressed like an elf. The same tacky decorations hang on every surface of the place, just like they have every single holiday season. The restaurant isn’t too crowded. It’s mostly a hangout for an older crowd, but it’s the only place in town that serves food twenty-four hours and serves alcohol. We pick a table in the corner and are immediately brought over menus. We both order a beer and Carson insists we also order a shot of tequila for old time’s sake, then we both gaze down at the menu to figure out what we want to eat.

“So, is anyone joining us for dinner?” I ask.

“Nope, this portion of the evening is just for me and you.”

I smile. Alone time with Carson? I like the idea of that.

Four

Carson

“So, what’s been going on in your life?” I ask her after we toss back our shot. “Any new boyfriends or big life changes I need to know about? Did you run off and get married or do you have a secret child nobody knows about?”

She laughs and rolls her eyes. “No, no children. No husband. No boyfriend.”

That makes me smile. All of it. She’s completely single and so am I for the first time in I don’t know how many years.

“What about you? You and big boobs still together?”

I laugh. “Big boobs?”

“Yeah, you know the one. Long dark hair, big boobs, green eyes. You know, they all look the same. Your exes could all be on The Bachelor.”

That makes my back straighten. “I guess I have a type.” I laugh. What she doesn’t know is that she’s my type, but I fill my life with women who remind me of her because I can’t have the one I want. Fucked up? Yeah, tell my therapist that.

“You do have a type. Hey, have you ever noticed that all your little playthings look like me?” She leans forward, putting her elbow on the table and using her fist to hold up her head as she watches me.

“What?” I ask, playing confused.

“I have dark hair. I have green eyes. And you’ve seen my boobs. They may not be as big as big boobs, but I think they’re pretty nice.” She smiles and her face flushes.

I lean in, not even knowing what I’m going to say. I open my mouth, close it. Then I say, “Me and Jessica are not together anymore.”

She nods. “So my theory?”

I roll my eyes. “What exactly is your theory?”

“That maybe, deep down, you really want me.” I can’t tell if she’s joking or serious; the look on her face gives nothing away.

I wet my lips as I think about how to approach this. She’s my best friend. I shouldn’t want her. I can’t want her. All it would do is ruin us. And I’ve had her in my life too long to throw it all away for a one-night stand. “I guess I never really thought about it. I’ve dated blondes too. And they don’t all have green eyes.”

“All the ones I’ve met have,” she argues.

“Order up,” the waitress says, sliding our plates beneath us.

“Thank you,” I say, leaning back and getting ready to eat. “So, tell me. What do you plan on doing now?” I ask, hoping to change the subject.

She pops a fry into her mouth. “You mean like tonight or like with my life?”

“I meant with your life but either will work.”

“Well, I’ve been applying to several jobs, some in Chicago, St. Louis, even a few back out on the East Coast. I don’t know where I’ll end up. And what I plan on doing tonight is getting hammered, forgetting about the last four years I spent in study hell, and hopefully, get laid because let me tell you, it’s been too long!”

My back straightens again. Does that mean she wants to hook up with me or that I have to stand back and watch some other man touch her? I don’t know that I can do either.

“I mean, I haven’t been laid in…” She mentally counts the number of months in her head. “Like four months, and a girl has needs, you know?”

I take a bite of my burger and focus on chewing so I don’t choke. “You’ve changed a lot,” I point out.

Her brows draw together. “How so?”

“You never used to talk about getting laid before.”

She laughs. “Well, we haven’t