Page 37 of Mistletoe Mischief

“Oh my God, why are we talking about this?”

“Why not? You hit on a man in a bar, ready to pull the trigger on a casual encounter, which I am ninety-nine-point-nine percent sure is a first for you—”

“It’s not,” Ryler interjected.

“Excuse me?”

Alia’s high, skeptical tone sounded so offended, Ryler glanced at her and burst out laughing at her slack-jawed expression. “I have enjoyed a handful of one-night stands. I’m just discreet and tight-lipped about my sex life.”

“Well, then, if it’s not that you swung and missed for the first time, I think that man seriously gets under your skin.”

Ryler didn’t answer, frustrated by Alia’s analysis because it was too close to the truth. Something about Pike intrigued her from the first time she’d checked out his Instagram, and now that she’d met him in person, despite his initial rejection and her assurance that she was no longer interested, he still sent her pulse racing.

“I can neither confirm nor deny your accusation, but what I can say is that the moment has passed and there will be no more lapses.”

Alia sighed. “Too bad. He’s hot in a small-town, blue-collar way.” Ryler eyeballed her suspiciously, and Alia was quick to add, “Not my type.”

Ryler’s shoulders sagged in relief. “I don’t think we’ve ever shared a type.”

“True, but there is a first time for everything.”

“Ew, please no. I’ve gone through sixteen years without having to compete with you. Let’s not start now.”

Alia squeezed her arm. “I love you.”

“That came out of nowhere,” Ryler said, releasing the wheel to reach across her chest and cover her cousin’s hand, “but I love you, too.”

“I was just thinking that you’re my only real family and the best friend I’ve ever had.” Her voice seemed to choke on the last word, and the rest of it had come out kind of wobbly. “I would never want to lose that.”

Ryler released her hand after another reassuring squeeze. “You’re being really doom and gloom today. Something you want to share?”

“No,” she sobbed. “I was just thinking about how important you are to me.”

Her stomach bottomed out at the sound of her cousin’s emotional meltdown. Alia rarely cried, especially for sentimental reasons.

“And now I’m officially freaked out,” Ryler said, making the right-hand turn into their rental’s driveway. “Are you dying?”

“Can’t a cousin just show her love and appreciation without something drastic occurring?” Alia wailed, wiping at her eyes frantically.

“Alright, I’m gonna let this emotional breakdown slide for now because we are about to stop and I gotta save all my wits for my nemesis,” Ryler said, wagging her finger at Alia as she steered with the other hand. “But we’re going to come back to this later, and do not blame your period!”

Alia didn’t respond for several beats and finally asked, “Are you telling me that Pike guy is your nemesis now?”

“Absolutely.” Ryler noticed the silver SUV in the driveway when the trees cleared and smiled. “Speaking of nemeses, the guys are here.”

“Great,” Alia said, with no real bite to her tone.

Ryler pulled up behind them, saving the closest spot to the walkway for Pike so that they wouldn’t have to go around a car to get the tree up the stairs and into the house.

Ryler rolled down her window and pointed to the empty spot, motioning for Pike to park there. He pulled up past her and the guys’ rental car, and Ryler got out before the truck fully stopped. She paused in the doorway, staring at her cousin’s obvious tear-stained face with a frown, worrying her bottom lip.

“Seriously, are you okay?” Ryler asked.

Alia released a wet laugh. “Yeah. Honestly, it’s probably just this time of year. Nothing like an entire season meant for being with family to remind you how shitty your parents are.”

Or that yours are gone.

Ryler knew that it wasn’t the same thing, which is why she kept it to herself. Ryler had experienced a warm, loving relationship with her parents, whereas Alia spent hers with nannies and a staff in a mansion.