Page 88 of Mistletoe Mischief

“Does anybody know what’s going on with her?” Ryler asked.

“That time of the month?” Neil offered.

Ryler’s eyes narrowed. “You know that blaming a woman’s period for every mood swing is a good way to get yourself kicked right in the nuts.”

“Well, you’re the one talking about how she’s been off for a week, and isn’t that how long it lasts? Seems like simple logic.”

“Careful,” she said. “I love you, but I will not hesitate to throw you out that window and watch you fly through the air.”

Neil chuckled. “I’d love to see you lift me.”

Ryler’s phone beeped again, and when she checked out the message, it was a picture of Pike shirtless, lying on the bed with Jo.

I’m just lying here waiting for you.

Ryler slipped her phone into her pocket, her heart thudding excitedly. “I’m thinking we need something sweet and maybe some ginger ale for Alia.”

“There’s Oreos in the pantry,” Kit said.

“I don’t feel like Oreos,” Ryler said, climbing off the couch. “I’m going to head to the store.”

“Hey, will you grab another case of Gatorade?” Neil asked. “The blue one.”

“Sure, anything else you guys need?” Ryler asked.

“I want those taffy cookies,” Kit said.

“I thought we had Oreos?”

“Yeah, but the taffy ones sound better. And you might want to get a bag of Jolly Ranchers for your cousin. I heard sour candies help with nausea.”

“How do you know that?” Ryler asked.

“My brother’s wife. When she was pregnant, she used to suck on them all the time. It made her feel better.”

Ryler paused with her purse over her shoulder, glancing toward the hallway where the bathroom door was. Could Alia …

Ryler shook her head. No. There’s no way that Alia was pregnant. If they were just hooking up, neither one of them would risk it by going bareback, and things had ended with the last person she’d dated three months ago.

Ryler walked down the hallway and knocked on the bathroom door. “Hey, Alia. I’m going to the store and was going to pick you up some ginger ale. Do you need anything else?”

“Yeah,” Alia said quietly.

“What is it?” Ryler asked.

“I’ll shoot you a text,” Alia said. “I have to think about what it’s called.”

Ryler almost sighed, thinking about how complicated it was going to get now that all of them were shooting out suggestions on what she should buy at the store. At least having to buy multiple things gave her plenty of time to drive across town to Pike’s place.

When she got out to the car, she sent a text to Pike. What is your address?

Her phone beeped a few seconds later with his address, and she popped it into her GPS. The directions sent her across town, and as she made the drive, her phone kept beeping with messages, presumably from either Pike or the Excursions crew. She didn’t bother checking them, anticipation coursing through Ryler as she drew closer. She imagined crossing the threshold of his home and immediately dropping to her knees, relieving him of his pants and underwear to suck him into her mouth. She could imagine the sounds he’d make, and her pussy throbbed, her panties growing wetter as her GPS announced, “In one thousand feet, take the next left.”

She pulled into an empty parking spot that wasn’t covered and climbed out, crossing the parking lot. Before she even reached the sidewalk, Pike threw open the door, holding on to the top with his hands. He was shirtless and barefoot in just a pair of sweats. Ryler licked her lips as her eyes glided from his feet all the way up to his smiling face.

“What took you so long?” he asked.

“I had to find a good enough reason to leave,” she said.