Page 125 of 10 Things I Hate About Mistletoe

“Alright, so I’m a jerk sometimes,” Brodie admitted, “I fully admit it. I thought she was cute and when I tried to shoot my shot, you were always in my way.” Brodie shrugged. “I guess I took it a little too far when she picked you and not me. I’m not exactly the guy women chase.”

“Well,” Anthony said, unsure if Brodie was extending an olive branch or if this was another trick. “A good way to get them to run in the opposite direction is to keep doing what you’re doing.”

“You’re right,” Brodie said, holding out his hand to Anthony. “I’ll apologize to Delilah for my behavior. Are we cool?”

Anthony took it. “We’re cool.”

“And about our bet—”

“Hey,” Pike yelled, “are we gonna braid each other’s hair? Or are we gonna play hockey?”

Anthony would have choked Pike if there weren’t so many witnesses. What had Brodie been about to say?

“Doesn’t that guy ever get on your nerves?” Brodie asked.

“Yeah, but he’s my brother.” Anthony cleared his throat. “You were saying about—”

The other players started hollering at them to get on with the game. “After,” Brodie said, tossing him the puck. Anthony dropped it, launching it back into play.

After twenty more minutes of chasing their tails, Anthony, Pike, and Nick admitted defeat, and Brodie and his team were crowned Mistletoe hockey champions. Anthony and Pike presented Brodie’s team with a makeshift championship belt they’d ordered online. Brodie and Trip shook first Pike’s hand, then Anthony’s.

“We’ll drop off the snowmobiles tomorrow,” Anthony said.

“Yeah.” Pike grimaced. “A bet’s a bet.”

“Actually, I have a proposition for you,” Brodie said, grinning.

“You do?” Trip asked.

“I do. You obviously need a boat and I have one. How would you guys feel about a partnership? We can iron out the details, but you can rent my boat for a fee.”

Anthony couldn’t believe it. It had taken everything in him not to cry as he said they’d deliver the snowmobiles, and after everything, Brodie was standing here offering him another option? One that would grow their business instead of cripple it?

“I think—”

Anthony cut Pike off before he could fuck up and say something stupid. “We’d love to sit down and draft something up with you sometime next week.”

“Great,” Brodie said, nodding at Pike as they walked away, lifting the belt in the air.

“Why are you entertaining that asshole’s proposal, after you’ve spent the last month wanting to pummel him?”

“Because renting his boat puts us in a better position than losing two snowmobiles, don’t you think?”

Pike grinned, slapping him on the shoulder. “That’s why you’re the brains of this operation.”

Anthony laughed, bringing Pike into a headlock. “Don’t forget it.”

While Anthony was changing out of his gear in the contestant tent fifteen minutes later, Holly barged into the room and approached him with her arms crossed over her chest. Her red hair was up in a high ponytail that swayed as she walked and Anthony couldn’t help wondering how hair could be angry.

“I think she’s going to do something stupid,” Holly said.

Anthony waited for her to elaborate, and when she didn’t, he prodded her.

“I’m going to need more than that.”

“I think she is going to tell her parents she’ll move in with them just so she doesn’t have to inconvenience us.”

Anthony’s stomach twisted into a knot, but his voice gave nothing away. “Then that’s her choice.”