Page 6 of 10 Things I Hate About Mistletoe

“What is with you today?” Pike asked.

“Nothing,” he muttered. “What did I miss?”

Pike picked up his cup of coffee, wagging his eyebrows. “I said thanks for the coffee, snookums.”

“Don’t call me that, bro,” Anthony said, giving the smaller man a friendly nudge with his shoulder.

“Easy there, you almost made me spill.” Pike set his cup down, checking the front of his sweater for droplets.

“That’s why you shouldn’t be an idiot.”

“Stop denying our love,” Pike said, making kissing noises. “You know you’re my boo for life.”

While Anthony wouldn’t have used that word to describe their connection, there was no denying his friendship with Pike and their other close friends, Nick and Noel Winters, were the lengthiest relationships he’d ever had. Other people might think that was a strange accomplishment, but for Anthony, it meant a lot. They were the family Anthony made, better than the one he’d been born into.

“Are you two done stroking each other’s emotional penises, or can we get started?” Merry asked.

Anthony cocked a brow her. “Really? Emotional penises?”

Merry just smirked in return. Even though she was a woman of twenty-eight now, Anthony still remembered her following along behind them when they were kids, her front teeth missing and sticks and leaves tangled in her hair. Now Merry sat poised across from him, blond hair piled on top of her head, with a sizeable open binder on the tabletop in front of her, looking like a type A angel and not the obnoxious little sister of his other best friend.

“Merry, I’m offended,” Pike said, holding one hand over his chest. “A woman in your delicate condition talking that way.”

“Pretty sure that’s how she got into that condition, bro.”

“Ant!” Merry laughed.

“Don’t Ant me. There’s no denying it, love. The proof is in the puddin’.”

Before Merry married Clark Griffin last year, she was just the middle child of the Winters clan and had given Pike and Anthony as much crap as she did her older brother, Nick, growing up. It was nice that nothing had changed besides her marital status.

Merry coughed, smothering her remaining laughter, and putting on a serious face. “Moving on to business. I asked you here because I have officially taken on the responsibility of organizing the Mistletoe Christmas festivities, and as new business owners, I want to invite you to participate.”

“Hell, yeah, we’re in,” Pike said, without even looking at Anthony to confirm. “Thanks, Merry.”

“No thanks needed,” she said, writing rapidly in her binder. “Additionally, I want to add a few events to the schedule, and I need your help. As our outdoor sports experts, would you be willing to organize a winter obstacle course for people to compete in? Participants will find sponsors, and then they must complete a series of tasks. It will take place the Saturday before Christmas.”

Four weeks to plan a major event and participate in several others while trying to run a business?

“That sounds like a huge undertaking—” Anthony said.

“You’ve come to the right men for the job!” Pike shot Anthony a look, and Anthony pressed his lips together, frustration rippling up his throat, but he held his protests at bay.

Merry frowned. “Anthony? You were saying.”

Anthony caught Pike’s pleading look and relented. “We could develop various ideas, depending on the budget,” Anthony said, grimacing when he heard Pike’s relieved sigh.

Merry brightened. “Great! I’ll see what items I can get donated to help offset costs. Please send me a list of ideas by Friday so I can start putting things in motion.”

“We will,” Pike said.

Anthony tried to bite back his irritation at Pike’s eagerness. This business was his dream, too, but the last thing Anthony wanted was to overcommit them for a bunch of events they couldn’t follow through with. “One thing, Merry! I’d like to focus on one event. We’re a new business, and I’d hate to stretch ourselves so thin that we disappoint you by doing a subpar job.”

Anthony ignored the heat of Pike’s stare. When they’d agreed to go into business together, they’d decided that Anthony would handle the marketing and financial side of things, especially since that’s what he’d received his degree in. Pike would handle most of the guided tours and lessons. It worked out well for them, except when Pike got excited and didn’t take the time to consider all the angles.

Thinking about the dozen or so events that occurred every holiday season in Mistletoe, Anthony could feel the walls closing in. The Festival of Trees was one of Mistletoe’s most significant charity events. While Anthony had helped set up the event in the past, he knew the tree and decoration costs would be several hundred, depending on where they ordered their supplies. People voted and bid on their favorite trees; all the money went toward extracurricular programs this year for the school district. On top of that, the Parade of Lights would require hours to design a float, money for supplies …

Anthony could see the costs adding up in his head and a cold sweat broke out along his skin. They were too new to be shelling out thousands of dollars in a few weeks.