Page 85 of Mistletoe Mischief

“So long as that friend isn’t trying to butter me up to talk about our other former, mutual friend,” Pike said.

“We share many friends, so you’re going to have to be more specific.”

Pike pushed open the door, carrying Jo’s cage inside. “If you want to talk about Anthony, you are barking up the wrong tree. He made his bed, and now he’s got to lie in it.”

Nick shook his head. “Can’t you at least hear him out?”

“I heard him out on the side of the road, and each excuse was worse than the last.” Pike set Jo down behind the counter and leaned against it, watching Nick intently as he said, “Anthony can tell me that she’s a witch who cast a spell on him, and it still wouldn’t change the fact that he lied. That he didn’t have the balls to tell me he wanted Delilah and I needed to back off. Instead, he let me make a fool of myself, then went behind my back and hooked up with her. That was beyond cruel and not what friends do.”

“Playing devil’s advocate,” Nick said, holding his hands up as though Pike were armed, “have you ever had feelings for someone that you weren’t ready to talk about yet with your friends?”

Pike thought about his little arrangement with Ryler, but it wasn’t the same thing. They had a casual relationship and weren’t going for anything more. Anthony had spent the weekend with Delilah and her parents. You didn’t go home and meet someone’s parents unless you were serious about them.

“I’ve always been very open about people I am serious about, and I make my feelings known. I make my intentions known. I don’t skulk around and blow my best friend off. I don’t leave him hanging. And I certainly don’t laugh about him behind his back.”

“You know that Anthony didn’t laugh at you,” Nick said.

Pike threw his hands up. “Why are you taking his side?”

Nick shook his head. “I am not taking his side. We’ve all been friends for a long time, and maybe he had a reason for his behavior. It might not be a good reason. It might even come off as stupid, but maybe in his mind it was the right thing to do at the time.”

Pike shook his head. “I am not interested in his logic. All I want is to do my job. I don’t wanna deal with any of this personal stuff yet. I am having a good morning, and I don’t want it ruined by Anthony’s bullshit.”

“Fine,” Nick said, setting Pike’s coffee on the counter. “I’ve got to get ready for my presentation today. I just don’t like all this strife between you guys.”

“I’ve got nothing against you. My only issue is the man who picked a chick over his best friend.”

Nick nodded. “Fair enough. When did you get a dog?”

“My sister’s early Christmas present,” Pike said. “It was the start of my very difficult weekend.”

“What else happened?” Nick asked.

“Nothing, just got stuck out near Lake Pine yesterday and had to wait out the storm at the lodge.”

“Oh, how is Doc doing?” Nick asked.

“Keeping busy,” Pike said. “He had a full house with only one room left for me.”

“I thought you weren’t working this weekend,” Nick said.

“I was showing the Excursions crew some places outside Mistletoe. I sent them back to town before the storm hit.”

“Well, we were thinking about getting dinner tonight if you want to join us,” Nick said.

“Who is ‘us’?” Pike asked.

“Noel, me, Anthony—”

Pike shook his head. “I’ll pass, but thanks for the invite.”

Nick sighed and pushed the door open. “We love you, man.”

“I love you, too,” Pike said.

As Nick disappeared outside, Pike thought about how hard the next few weeks were going to be as he acclimated to not being friends with Anthony. Nick and Noel were always their friends and now he would have to split their time with Anthony. It was going to be like a divorce, except they would share custody of their friends instead of their kids.

Around lunchtime, Noel showed up with two French dip sandwiches and a smile.