Page 79 of 10 Things I Hate About Mistletoe

If Anthony wasn’t hammered, he would have recognized the alarm bells going off in his head, but instead, he said, “Absolutely.”

“If we win, you’re going to buy each of us a snow mobile.”

“And if we win, we want your boat.”

“Deal.”

The other men walked away, laughing.

“That was a little too cocky,” Nick said.

“I’m not worried about those clowns.” Pike stood up, grabbing Anthony by his arm. “It is time!”

“How did you talk me into hosting a book club?”

Delilah was putting out the plastic cups Holly had brought onto her dining room table, the sound of excited feminine chatter surrounding her. Holly had proposed the idea of starting a monthly book club for their friend group as they’d gotten busier with their lives, but it had spread beyond the original six women. There were several women that Delilah didn’t recognize who had come as guests.

“Because you love me and know my place is a mess to get to during the holidays.”

She agreed with Holly. Cars lined up and down the block to see the Christmas displays in Evergreen Circle during the holiday season and there was no way of getting into the place unless people parked down the road and trekked in. Unfortunately, it had started snowing earlier and hadn’t let up yet, which would have made that situation even worse.

Holly wrapped an arm around Delilah’s shoulder and squeezed. “It will be fun. I promise.”

Delilah hoped so because she could use a little fun. After her interlude with Anthony in the alley, she’d wanted to come home and cry. Delilah had heard of chubby chasers, men who were attracted to plus-size women and didn’t want to go public, but she’d never imagined Anthony would be one of them. She hadn’t realized the thought had been at the back of her mind until she’d said it out loud, but once it was out there, she couldn’t take it back.

How can you think that? He told Pike he’d liked you for a year.

Only that confession had come after he’d been caught with her. No one had known about the two of them and the first thing he does today is pull her out of sight?

You didn’t tell Holly about the two of you. Maybe you’re doing what you accused him of. Making excuses to run.

“That makes no sense,” she grumbled.

“What do you mean?” Holly asked with a frown.

Delilah hadn’t meant to say anything and laughed. “Nothing! I’m just talking to myself.”

“Want to go mingle before we get started?”

What she wanted to tell her best friend was no. She didn’t have the desire to do anything but hide in her room with Leia, but instead, she nodded. “Let me get a drink first and I’ll join you.”

“Okay, pumpkin.”

Delilah watched Holly as she approached Officer Wren, Noel, Ricki, and another woman she didn’t recognize.

“You’re Delilah, right?”

Delilah jumped, spilling a little wine onto the tablecloth as the woman approached her out of nowhere. “Shit.”

“Sorry, didn’t mean to sneak up on you. I’m Ryler Colby. I’m the personal assistant to Alia Cole.” The woman extended her hand and Delilah took it.

“Nice to meet you.” Delilah had no idea who Alia Cole was but Ryler was adorable, with a genuinely friendly smile and a smattering of freckles across her nose and cheeks. Her dark brown eyes were lined with thick lashes that Delilah would have killed for and her sandy brown hair hung to her shoulders in loose waves. She was midsize and her green cropped sweater and high-waisted jeans were casual but chic.

“Your outfit is so cute,” Delilah said.

“Thank you. I’m a huge thrifter, so these jeans I snagged for six bucks and the sweater was five. Still had tags on it.”

“That’s awesome. Unfortunately, most clothes I find thrifting look like something my grandma would wear.”