Page 20 of Mistletoe Mischief

“No, please get started on the shopping. I’m tired.”

Ryler watched Alia disappear into the bathroom before she grabbed a cart and headed for the produce first. She passed by a cold case with a mirror angled down at her. Ryler saw a woman with an oval face, her wavy hair pulled back in a ponytail with wispy strands escaping the confines. Freckles dotted her cheeks and the bridge of her slim nose, the only feature she shared with her cousin. Her lips were full and her chin slightly pointed. Her generous chest stretched the words on her cropped T-shirt, which brushed the top of her high-waisted jeans. The denim hugged her hips and thighs, showing off the curves that had made her self-conscious in middle school and high school. Being midsize in the fashion world was like being in limbo, especially when it came to certain styles that were so popular. While the hipster pants of the early 2000s were coming back in style, Ryler refused to give up her mom jeans, no matter how many times Alia tried to get her to conform.

She’d never been able to hold a candle to her taller, slimmer cousin, but after her initial bout of teenage insecurity, it didn’t matter. Ryler was a tomboy, practical and driven, and Alia was bougie. They’d never competed over men or accolades, supporting each other instead. That is why their working relationship had lasted so long. They complemented each other well.

Ryler pulled out her phone and leaned across the handle of the shopping cart, tapping out a message to Pike. Made it to our rental. Going to grab some food and catch up on sleep. See you Friday and Happy Thanksgiving.

She slipped her phone into her back pocket again, smiling. The radio in the grocery store was playing holiday music already, large green boughs of garland hanging high on the walls. Cartoon Christmas characters were taped below and above the greenery. Ryler stopped in front of the dairy case and grabbed a carton of eggnog, setting it in the cart.

“Ew, eggnog?” Alia groaned, coming up alongside her. “Don’t make me throw up again.”

“You puked? Why?” Ryler asked.

Alia shrugged. “Probably still hungover.”

Ryler knew that wasn’t it, since it had been two days since Ryler had seen her drink anything. “So, you’re not hungry?”

“I am,” Alia said, grabbing a half gallon of nonfat milk.

“Then how about we get this done fast, go get some food and drinks”—Ryler bumped Alia with her hip—“flirt with a few guys.”

“Ha, if we find one doable guy in this town, I’ll die of shock.”

I know at least one exists.

The thought of Alia showing interest in Pike, however, didn’t sit well with Ryler.

Are you seriously calling dibs on a man you don’t even know?

“Let’s hope that doesn’t happen.”

Chapter Six

Wednesday evening had taken an unexpected turn for Pike when their friend group finished helping Nick get the Christmas tree farm ready for the Friday after Thanksgiving. They’d headed back to the house to find out what Mrs. Winters was making, only to discover Merry, Holly, and Delilah planning the holiday bachelor auction. Since he and Anthony were going to be a part of it, Pike was completely invested in how it should turn out. After they’d gone to Anthony’s trailer to clean up, the group of men returned to brainstorm. Even Victoria and Chris Winters got into it, tossing out names like trivia answers.

Getting Delilah alone had been impossible until this point, but the plan he’d devised in the meantime was sure to score him a date. Fingering the sprig of mistletoe he’d slipped in his pocket, Pike waited for Delilah to finish her goodbyes with the Winters. Like all their children’s friends, Victoria and Chris treated Delilah like one of their own.

“Delilah, you are allowed to call us by our first names.” Victoria gave her a hug, a sheepish grin on her face as she added, “Pike and Anthony have been calling me Victoria since they were seniors, and I like you better than them.”

“That hurts me!” Pike gasped.

Victoria scoffed. “She doesn’t come in and eat all my food.”

“It’s a compliment to your culinary skills,” Pike protested.

“Thank you, Victoria,” Delilah said, giving the rest of the room a wave. “Good night, everyone. Holly, I’ll text you when I make it home.”

Holly hopped up from the couch to hug her, whispering something that Pike couldn’t hear. But as Delilah responded, “Of course. That’s what besties do,” he assumed it was to thank Delilah for her help.

As everyone else called out their farewell, Pike stood up. “I’ll walk you out.”

Pike rounded the couch, his steps faltering when he caught her expression. Why did she look like he’d offered to walk her into the woods and leave her there?

Despite her less than enthusiastic response, Pike grabbed the front door and held it for her. “I’ll be back in a minute,” he said, catching Anthony’s stony expression. Pike thought he’d at least have gotten a thumbs-up or some form of encouragement from his friends, but only Noel was smiling.

He shut the door behind them, pulling at his bow tie as he caught up to Delilah at the bottom step. She was facing him with her hands in her pockets, her breath fogging from the cold.

“What’s up?” she asked.