Page 100 of Mistletoe Mischief

“Follow me!” Anthony called like a general commanding an army. “To victory!”

Pike laughed, skipping along with them. And to think, he almost missed out on all of this. The group slowed down, and Pike found himself falling in step with Sam. Anthony, Nick, and Clark were practicing the song ahead of them, while Declan walked in between them, typing on his phone. Maybe giving Holly a heads-up they were on their way? It would take them at least a half an hour of drunk walking, maybe longer, to get there. Pike didn’t want to spend the whole time in silence.

“I’m surprised you’re coming along on this little adventure,” Pike said, segueing the conversation.

Sam shrugged. “I’ve got nothing better to do tonight.”

“Really? I’d think you’d be out with whatever woman caught your eye this week.”

“Why do you act like I’m some lady-killer, when you’ve got a reputation yourself?” Sam asked, his voice gruff with irritation.

Pike reeled back in surprise. “What? I’m not judging you.”

“Sure feels like it. Every time you open your mouth. Not all of us are made for a happy ending, you know,” Sam said, shoving his hands into his pockets.

“I didn’t think you wanted one. I thought romance made you hurl, as you so eloquently put it.”

“We always scorn that which eludes us,” Sam said.

“Are you telling me the great Sam Griffin is looking for love?”

“Even if I was, I’m the bad guy. Women don’t look at me for long-term commitment. I’m the guy they use for a good time.”

Pike experienced a strange kinship with Sam, realizing that he’d thought women felt the same way about him. That was before Ryler and everything they’d been through.

“If you weren’t that guy, and you were trying to get back into a woman’s good graces, what would you do?”

Sam swiveled his way, frowning. “Are you asking me for relationship advice now?”

“No, I was just making friendly conversation, since we’re on a quest to help our friend woo his girl. Like you, I’m not exactly the guy women want to settle down with.”

“Maybe don’t tell them they snore like a trucker, and you’ll get a little further with them,” Sam said, smirking.

“Who told you that?” Pike asked.

“Sally, after the two of you broke up. She wanted a rebound, and I wasn’t in the mood to oblige, but apparently, spilling her guts about what went wrong between you was the next best thing.”

Pike had known about Sally chasing Sam, but where it used to bother him, now he really didn’t feel anything. Not even regret for how things ended.

“Yeah, well, my issue with telling women exactly what’s on my mind without sugarcoating it seems to be a pattern I need to break.”

“You can be honest with women about the important shit, like feelings and whatnot, but if they ask you how they look in an outfit, use finesse before answering.” Sam clapped him on the shoulder. “And if you fuck up, I’m a firm believer that being earnest and vulnerable with any woman is the way to get back into her good graces. Especially if you care about her.”

“For a guy who isn’t relationship material, you make a lot of sense,” Pike said.

“Maybe that whole saying that ends with ‘those who can’t, teach’ has a point.”

Chapter Thirty-one

Ryler stood against the wall of the living room, watching all the women laugh and mingle, including Alia, who had connected with Merry Winters over their opinions of Instagram algorithms and hadn’t stopped talking for over an hour. Ryler had gotten bored with their conversation and walked around for a while, smiling and nodding at people she passed, but no one stopped her to talk.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a gorgeous plus-size woman hanging back, sipping from a wine glass. Ryler recognized her from that day on the side of the road with Anthony and Pike and thought about joining her, but what would she say?

Hi, nice to meet you officially. I was Pike’s rebound after you rejected him. More wine?

Although Ryler knew that nothing was going on with Delilah and Pike, would it be weird to go talk to her now that there was something going on between Ryler and Pike?

Ryler’s phone buzzed in her pocket, and she pulled it out, checking the text from Neil.