Page 45 of Mistletoe Mischief

Kit’s firm declaration surprised Ryler. “They’re not?”

“No,” Kit said, averting his gaze, but she wasn’t having it.

“Kit, if you’ve got something to say, share.”

Kit sighed. “Alright, he’s going to murder me for telling you this, but Neil’s been talking a lot about how he wants to buy a place and settle down.”

“Really?” Neil hadn’t said anything like that to Ryler, and she thought they talked about everything. “Is he dating someone I don’t know about?”

Kit shrugged. “I’m not sure. I think he’s just tired of the vagabond lifestyle.”

“And Alia?”

“Oh, she’s been ready to quit the show for a long time. I’m just not sure she knows how to tell you.”

Dread rushed through Ryler’s veins. If Alia left, Ryler could go back to posting scenic and food pics, but people would ask questions and wonder why she stopped posting pictures of herself. They’d built something together, but if Alia and Neil were thinking about leaving, what would that mean for Excursions?

“How do you know that?” she asked.

“People tend to talk a lot when I’m around,” he said, smiling sheepishly. “I don’t know if it’s because I’m quiet or if they just don’t care, but I hear a lot of stuff.”

Alia’s bad moods lately made a lot of sense if she didn’t want to be the face of Excursions anymore. But why wouldn’t she just say something?

“I wish they would be honest if they are both feeling this way,” Ryler whispered.

Kit patted her shoulder. “I’m sure it’s because neither one of them wants to disappoint you.”

Ryler paused in front of the window for A Shop for All Seasons, contemplating Kit’s revelations. The last thing she wanted to do was alienate the people she loved most, and if they were only doing the show for her, she didn’t want to hold them back. Of course, if Alia no longer wanted to be the face of Excursions, Ryler would figure it out.

Or you could come clean, like Neil said. There may be some backlash, but it would free Alia.

And put Ryler in the hot seat.

“I didn’t mean to bum you out,” Kit said.

Ryler shook her head. “No, it’s better if I know.”

The blinds on the door of A Shop for All Seasons were up, and the sign was flipped to open, so Ryler turned the knob and held the door for Kit. The shop smelled of cinnamon and apples, and Ryler experienced another bout of déjà vu. Would that smell always remind her of her mom’s baking and the holidays?

Holly looked up from behind a small counter and smiled. “Long time no see.”

“This place is amazing,” Ryler said, taking in all the colorful décor. The store had shelves of knickknacks and several different Christmas trees with gorgeous ornaments adorning every branch. There were baskets of Christmas plushies and stockings hanging on the wall. Holiday wall art and advent calendars were strategically placed around, catching Ryler’s eye. Her parents had given her a chocolate-filled advent calendar every year on the first of December, but it might be fun to get a refillable one for the future.

“Thank you for saying so,” Holly said, coming around the counter. “We switched over from fall to Christmas yesterday. It’s a lot of work, but it brings others joy, which makes me happy.”

Kit wandered over to one of the shelves, looking at a row of Santa statues, while Ryler headed to one of the trees, admiring the ornaments.

“Do you have some ideas on what you might be looking for?” Holly asked.

“I was thinking about doing some stockings and maybe writing our names on them with a Sharpie.” Holly’s horrified expression caught Ryler off guard, and she giggled, “Or not.”

“Sorry,” Holly said, her slack jaw transforming into a sheepish grin. “I’ve often been told I wear every thought on my face. We offer personalization and could embroider them for you. It takes about a day, and there’s an extra charge, but they won’t look funky.”

“Oh, are we against funky? Because maybe that’s the look I’m going for.”

Holly laughed. “I heard you were a little feisty.”

“Huh. I wonder who told you that,” Ryler mused.