Mistletoe Mischief (Falling in Mistletoe #2)

Chapter Twenty-seven

R yler sat outside the bathroom door the next morning, waiting for Alia to emerge with an answer on whether or not she was expecting. Alia read somewhere that the first pee of the morning is the strongest for early detection. She’d sent Kit and Neil off to go snowshoeing with Pike, and although she’d been disappointed about missing out, Ryler hoped that after Alia discovered the truth, they’d be able to join the guys.

The door opened, and Ryler studied Alia’s tear-stained face, her stomach sinking.

“What do you want to do?” Ryler asked.

“I don’t know. I’ve never been pregnant before, so this is new territory for me,” Alia said, walking past her to the front door with the box in hand.

“Where are you going?” Ryler asked, climbing to her feet.

“I am taking this out to the trash can so Neil and Kit don’t see it.”

“Even if they see it, what does it matter? If you decide to keep the baby, they’ll find out about it.”

Alia didn’t answer her, just walked out the front door, and a lump formed in Ryler’s throat. No. No way. No fucking way.

When Alia came back inside and closed the door, Ryler ran a hand over her face.

“Does he know?” Ryler asked.

“No, but I’m going to have to tell him.”

“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.”

“I know. But honestly, I’m considering keeping it. I mean, why not? I’ve got my trust fund and can buy my own place if you don’t want us living with you.”

“Alia—”

“No, I mean it. I know you didn’t sign on for this, and if you’re mad at me, I understand.”

“Why would I be mad at you? You are allowed to sleep with whomever you want and live your life on your terms. I just don’t want you to feel like you have to move out. I’m hardly at the condo as it is, so if you want to stay with me, I would love to have you both.” Ryler cleared her throat. “Of course, Neil might have something to say about that.”

“I don’t know,” Alia said, nibbling her lip. “Sometimes I think he feels more for me than just sex, and other times, it’s like nothing’s changed between us. ”

“Well, you’re going to have to tell him about the baby, even if he wants nothing to do with any of it.” Ryler hoped that wasn’t the case, because if Neil turned out to be the type of guy to use her cousin and walk away, Ryler didn’t know if she could forgive him. Ryler reached out and tucked a piece of Alia’s hair back. “Do you think we should drive out and catch up with the guys? See if we can’t put your anxiety to rest?”

“Ugh, you’re really going to make me go snowshoeing in the forest when I feel like ass?”

“Maybe the fresh air will do you good,” Ryler said while calling Pike, but it went straight to voicemail. “Damn.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Pike didn’t answer his phone.”

“Ooh, Pike,” Alia teased, and Ryler rolled her eyes, trying Neil and Kit, but there were no answers either.

“Please, you can’t say anything to Neil-lover.” Ryler looked up Adventures in Mistletoe and called the store number.

“Adventures in Mistletoe, Anthony speaking.”

“Hi, this is Ryler from the Excursions podcast.”

“Oh, hi there. Aren’t you supposed to be out snowshoeing?”

“Yes, but my cousin wasn’t feeling well, so I stayed behind to wait with her, but now that she’s perked up a bit, we thought we’d join the guys. Only Pike isn’t answering his phone. I know you two have the GPS app to track each other and was hoping you could point me in the right direction?”

“He told you about that?” Anthony asked.

“Yeah, he seemed surprised I didn’t do it with my friends.”

Anthony chuckled. “Let me see.”

It was silent for a few beats before Anthony hopped back on the line. “I know where he went, but it’s a little tricky to find if you don’t know the area. How about I drive to you, and you can follow me out there.”

“Oh, but don’t you have to watch the store? I don’t want to put you out or in a bad position with everything—” Ryler snapped her mouth closed.

“I’m happy to do it. Just give me about fifteen minutes.”

“Thanks,” Ryler said, swallowing past the uncomfortable lump as she ended the call .

“Everything okay?” Alia said.

“Yeah, he’s coming here so we can follow him out to where the guys are.”

“I can always wait until Neil gets back.”

“Oh no, we are getting everything out in the open, especially this baby business. Neil was part of the production process and should be part of the finale.”

“You make our lives sound like your podcast.”

“Oh, Excursions was never about the drama, but I have a feeling today we are going to see all the plot twists.”

“Why is that?”

“Let’s just say Pike isn’t going to be happy when I show up with his partner in tow.”