Page 91 of Mistletoe Mischief

“And how do you think he’ll react?”

“He probably won’t be too happy about it, considering—”

“Fucking Neil!” Ryler hollered, grabbing a pillow off the couch and beating its side with rage. “I cannot believe he pretended to not like you, all the while sleeping with you!”

“It was my idea,” Alia said. “It just happened one night, and when it kept happening, we didn’t want to make things weird. Plus, we weren’t sure how you would react since you two used to date.”

Ryler laughed. “Neil and I have always been better off friends, but how could you two roll the dice on unprotected sex?”

“We didn’t!” Alia said, sitting down on the couch. “A condom must have broken.”

“And you weren’t on the pill?”

“You know the pill makes me gain weight,” Alia protested.

“So does pregnancy!” Ryler cried.

Alia sniffled. “You are supposed to be my person, and you’re making me feel worse.”

Ryler flopped down next to her, closing her eyes. “I’m sorry. I just don’t know what to say! This is the last thing I expected from either one of you.”

“I think we were just lonely, and one night, we had a few drinks and started talking. One thing led to another and bam.”

“Sex doesn’t just bam,” Ryler said.

“It does when it’s good. We said that would be the only time and that we weren’t going to talk about it, but then I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Every time I was around him, he smelled so good. I kept thinking about the way he kissed and how good things had been.” Alia cleared her throat. “I guess he was thinking the same thing, because suddenly, he was knocking on my door at one in the morning, and we were ripping each other’s clothes off.”

“Too much information,” Ryler said, although Alia’s description of events had a familiar ring, and she found herself thinking about Pike. The desperation. The need. How much she wanted him and just thinking about his touch could make her throb with desire.

“How long has it been going on?”

“A little over two months.”

“But he hasn’t talked about anything more than hooking up?” Ryler asked.

Alia shook her head. “No. And I’m afraid when I tell him, he is going to freak out. He’s already been looking at—” Alia clapped her mouth shut, but Ryler caught it.

“He’s already what? Been looking for a new job?” Alia didn’t say anything, and Ryler shook her head. “It’s alright. I already know you both are over Excursions.”

“I’m sorry, Ryler. I loved modeling, and you gave me a safe space to do it, but I want to be me. I want to live my life out of the spotlight.” Alia touched her stomach hesitantly. “Maybe this is my sign.”

“What made you change your mind?” Ryler asked.

“I’m thirty, and a few months ago, someone commented that my breasts were starting to sag.”

Ryler remembered the comment but thought she’d deleted it before Alia saw it. “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s the facts. I’m getting older, and my body is changing. If I keep this baby, there are going to be stretch marks and who knows what else. I don’t think I can go through all this under a microscope.”

“That’s why I never wanted to step in front of the camera,” Ryler whispered.

“I don’t mean to be insensitive, but the difference between you and me is that people never saw you as perfect. They weren’t jealous of you. It is going to get ugly, fast. I’ll be like the girl who fell out of favor with the popular crowd, and now they’re coming for me.”

“That’s a bit superficial, but I take your meaning,” Ryler said.

“Don’t get me wrong, Ryls, you are beautiful. I’ve always thought so. I used to be so jealous that you got the good boobs and I got these dinky tits.” Alia laughed. “Do you think they will get bigger if I stay pregnant?”

“Maybe, but that is not a reason to stay pregnant.”