Page 116 of Mistletoe Mischief

“Who do you think it is?” she asked.

“No clue. I can’t remember seeing him talk to anyone.”

“I guess we have a mystery to solve, Daphne,” Pike teased.

“I prefer Velma.” Ryler placed a palm on his chest briefly, this need to touch him becoming a real issue with keeping their relationship a secret. “I’m going to the bathroom. Be back in a bit.”

“Okay.”

Ryler took off, relieved that there wasn’t a line. As she used the facilities, she thought about the last few days of sneaking around and grabbing illicit moments together. Now that Kit knew, they could spend the night together without worrying. Getting up and leaving Pike’s arms had become a real chore of late.

How are you going to feel when you leave him forever?

While she’d recorded the first of a two-part Mistletoe episode yesterday, Ryler thought about how different the show was going to look with just her and Kit. She’d thought about putting up another Instagram post but hadn’t felt the drive to go anywhere. It was odd, but in a short amount of time, she’d made friends here. Holly, she’d become especially close with, and then there was Pike.

There wasn’t a place she’d visited, not even her month-long stay in Ireland, that had ever felt like home. Not until she’d explored this quiet little town. But moving here and getting a place—now that Neil and Alia were taking over her lease—that would be insane, right? She’d have to talk to Pike about staying; what if he flipped out?

Alia and Neil tried to talk her out of moving, offering to share the condo with her so she didn’t rush into anything, but from the moment she’d arrived, Mistletoe had felt different. Like coming home. And even if Pike wasn’t feeling the same, this is where she wanted to be.

For the first time since she was twelve, Ryler was vulnerable, and she didn’t think that she liked it.

Ryler left the bathroom, looking for Pike, and she found him hovering over a prone figure.

“Oh my God, Delilah!” Ryler yelled, gliding over to where they stood, stopping next to Pike. Delilah blinked as if trying to place her, then flashed her a reassuring smile.

“I’m alright.” Delilah rapped her knuckles on the side of her helmet. “Anthony made sure I was wearing noggin protection.”

“Can you help me get her to that chair?” Anthony asked, pointing to chairs in front of the hot cocoa hut. “I’m going to run back and get my equipment. I kind of threw it in a panic.”

“We’ve got her,” Pike said, taking her hands from Anthony’s and gliding her over the snow to the closest chair.

“First time snowboarding?” he asked as she plopped into the seat.

“How’d you guess?” She laughed.

He chuckled.

Ryler put a hand on Delilah’s shoulder. “Do you want something to drink? Chocolate always makes me feel better.”

“A water, please?” Delilah said.

“You got it.”

“Not gonna ask me, Kitten?” Pike called out as Ryler got in line.

“I already know what you want,” she shot back.

Pike chuckled again, the deep rumble shooting a spark of need in her, and Ryler looked at him, wishing she could come back with his drink and kiss him, admit all the things she needed to get off her chest.

Instead, Ryler blushed and hurried over to the hot cocoa shack, turning her back on them before either one of them saw it. Ryler kept glancing at them conversing as she stood inside, her stomach twisting up when Delilah smiled at Pike. Did he still have feelings for her? Ryler knew his beef with Anthony was about the lies rather than Delilah, but did he regret not getting a chance with her?

Since when did she get jealous?

Since you found someone you wanted to keep.

Oh, shit. How did she let this happen?

Ryler got their drinks and headed back, balancing them in her hands.