Why didn't he like Paul?

It was a good question.

Nick had tried to make to her feel like it wasn't a good question, but it was. One that continued to niggle away at him, and so he started making a mental list, because he was pretty sure he had some legit reasons.

Hey, it beat thinking about her going down to China Town and slicing off a piece of her pumpkin pie for the guy.

He most often thought of Paul as "the guy".

Perfectly Good Reason to Dislike the Guy, #1:
He ruined Dudesgiving.

Jess had come stumbling into the loft, looking possibly cuter and happier than he'd ever seen her look (and that was saying something, since "cute" and "happy" were basically the two first words anyone would use to describe Jess. Although, once they got to know her at all, flat-out WEIRD might also be an option.)

She was carrying a huge turkey, and announcing that she was altering their UNcelebration plans by inviting a guy she worked with over for Thanksgiving.

A "really hot" guy.

And Nick had immediately disliked him.

"I don't like the guy."

"Nick, don't you think you're being a little irrational? You haven't even met him yet!" Schmidt's stance on the issue had done a 180 since Jess had promised to invite Cece over too, so Nick just rolled his eyes at him.

"I'm with Nick," Winston agreed, "I say again, mark my words, this guy is going to end up being our fifth roommate, and we won't even have a say in the matter."

Nick again felt the need to remind him, "It's just a first date Winston. I'm sure things aren't going to get that crazy". And he studiously refused to explore the sinking sensation he felt in his heart every time Winston said that.

"Do you know what your problem is, Nick?" Schmidt was asking, and for a terrifying second Nick was struck with the cold fear that the emotions he was afraid to acknowledge even to himself were clearly and horribly obvious to everyone else in the loft.

"I don't think I have a problem," he answered too quickly. "I was just really excited about Dudesgiving, that's all." This earned a double-take from Winston, but hey, he was desperate to try to distract Schmidt.

No such luck.

"Your problem," Schmidt continued ruthlessly, "Is that Jess is completely showing you up at this whole 'recovering from heartbreak' thing."

"Huh?"

"Look at her, she was living with Spencer for SIX years, and he cheated on her, which she discovered in the most humiliating way possible. Everything about her breakup was worse than yours, in every way. But look how great she's doing!"

Nick gave him a turtleface, and Schmidt continued, "She went out on a rebound date, she's not NEARLY as disfunctional as she was when she first moved in, and now she actually had the nerve to invite a guy she likes out on a date..."

"Can we really even call this a date at all?" Nick mumbled.

"...while YOU, my friend, have nothing to show for your own post-breakup history but a couple of aborted rolls in the hay..."

"TO BE FAIR," Nick interjected, "the fact that they were aborted was NOT my choice or fault!"

But now Winston was chiming in. "You know, Schmidt's right. You've been moping around this apartment like a grumpy bear for long enough, and frankly, it's making me dread coming home sometimes. Seriously dude. You need to get yourself out there..."

"...meet some new girls..."

"...live a little..."

"...GET YOU SOME..."

"JAR," Winston said, before continuing seamlessly, "Find someone to...you know...like!"

Nick winced at the soft note of something that came way too close to sympathy in Winston's voice, and said defensively, "For your information, both of you, there is someone I'm interested in these days!"

His roommates were suddenly avid.

"Really?"

"Who is she?"

"Where did you meet her?"

"Is she hot?"

"See, that's a reason I haven't...brought her home yet. I knew you guys would be all over her like flies. She's a great girl, who I really like, and we're taking it slow. That's all I'm gonna tell you."

"'Taking it slow,'" Schmidt repeated to Winston, with eyebrows raised in significance. "That means no gitchie goo yet. No wonder he's been so frustrated and crabby lately."

"EWWWWW, 'gitchie goo', really? JAR Schmidt!"

"What? 'Gitchie goo' is what my grandpa called it! Are you saying my grandpa was a douche bag, too?"

"Let's just say that explains a lot, Schmidt...a whole lot!"

Nick listened to his roommates bicker, and thanked his lucky stars for the timely diversion. He was not prepared to answer any more questions about the girl who was completely under his skin these days. He couldn't get her out of his head, and he'd tried, OH, he'd tried. But every day she gave him some new reason to smile, and to find himself liking her more and more.

No, Schmidt and Winston absolutely, positively must NOT be allowed to discover just how much he'd been finding himself crushing on Jess, lately.