Mistletoe Mischief (Falling in Mistletoe #2)

Chapter Thirty

P ike sat on his couch with Jo sprawled across his lap, holding his phone in his hand. He should text Nick at least and rap out how he was feeling after Delilah’s truth bomb. Pike dialed Nick, but he sent him to voicemail after one ring.

“Fine, jerk, I’m calling your wife,” Pike said aloud. Jo lifted her head and looked up at him, staring at him with unblinking dark eyes. “It’s not what you think. She’s just a friend.”

Jo laid her head back down again, and Pike dialed Noel.

“Yello,” she said brightly.

“Well, you sound like you’re in a super mood.”

“I am. I get to go to book club at Delilah’s tonight instead of heading into work. What’s not to be happy about?”

“Well, great,” Pike said, stroking Jo’s fur. “Listen, I tried calling your husband first, but he sent me to voicemail, so you’re my backup plan.”

“Insulting, but continue.”

“I bumped into Delilah at the store, who told me that Anthony broke things off with her because of what happened with me.”

“I heard something similar,” Noel said.

“Which I can’t understand, because if he wanted her so badly it was worth lying to me, why lose the both of us?”

“Maybe he couldn’t be happy with her until he fixed things with you?”

“That is ridiculous,” Pike grumbled.

“I’m also pretty sure it happens to be true,” Noel said. “Listen, I don’t want to end up on your bad side, but Delilah might be on to something. Anthony is miserable, and although I think losing you is a big part of it, I don’t think it’s the only thing that’s making him a wreck. I think he knows that his feelings for Delilah are real, and he doesn’t know what to do about them.”

Pike spluttered. “Are you trying to tell me that Anthony Russo, Mr. I Can’t Fall in Love, is besotted with Delilah Gill?”

“That is exactly what I’m telling you. He is head over heels for her, and he gave that up for you.”

“I didn’t ask him to do that!”

“You didn’t have to. You’re his person, Pike. We’re all human, including Anthony, but we rely on the people who love us to realize that and be there when we screw up. Especially when it doesn’t happen often.”

Pike grumbled under his breath about guilt trips, and Noel said loudly, “What was that?”

“I asked if you had any idea where Nick and Anthony are now?”

“Nick said they were going to the gym after work. Of course you’d know that if you’d bothered to call Anthony.”

“Thanks, Noel,” Pike said.

“Anytime, Fish.”

“Are you ever going to stop calling me that?” he groaned.

“It’s a term of endearment at this point, but if you really want me to, I will try to curb the urge.”

“Nah, that’s okay,” Pike said, smiling. “Thanks.”

Pike ended the call and texted Nick. Where are you and why aren’t you answering your phone?

Pike put Jo in her crate, ignoring her protests, and changed his clothes to jeans and a T-shirt. He snatched his jacket off the hook before leaving the house and heading into town, tracking Anthony’s location as he headed to the gym from the store.

A text came through from Nick, and he pressed the button on his steering wheel, playing it over his stereo in a high electronic voice. “At the gym with Anthony. I think he’s going to kick Brodie’s ass. The guy keeps talking about Delilah. You should come help. We can grab a drink after. Winking face emoji.”

Anthony was going to start a fight? Pike had seen him jump in to help a friend or defend someone he cared about, but Pike had never seen him throw the first punch. He definitely wanted to watch that.

His mood lighter than it had been in days, Pike parked as close to the gym entrance as he could get and got out of his car, heading down the sidewalk to the front door. He saw Anthony and Brodie facing off through the glass, and he opened the door, coming up behind Anthony and taking his arm before he let his fist fly.

“Whoa, cowboy,” Pike said in a cheery tone. “Let the Neanderthal go before you catch a case.”

Anthony looked down at Pike with wide eyes and dropped Brodie’s shirt. The minute he was free, Brodie shoved Anthony, who stumbled back into Nick.

“Next time you come at me, Russo, we’re going to finish this outside.”

“Brodie, Brodie,” Pike tsked. “You don’t want to bite off more than you can chew.”

“What the fuck are you talking about, Pike?” Brodie asked, posturing like an aggressive dog. Pike had always thought the big ox was an idiot, even in high school, but by the tense set of Anthony’s jaw, Pike could tell the other man was walking on thin ice.

“I can’t have you putting hands on my boy or his girl,” Pike said, giving Brodie a nod. “You understand? Delilah Gill is off-limits to you and anyone else in this town.”

“I think that’s up to her, don’t you?” Brodie asked.

“You can think that, but then again, I still have a certain photo you probably wouldn’t want going viral on social media.” Pike grinned when Brodie’s face paled, and Pike slapped his shoulder. “Glad we understand each other.”

Pike turned to face Nick and Anthony, cocking his head to the side. “I thought we were going to get a drink?”

“We are,” Nick said.

“Great, let’s vamoose.” Pike pointed at Anthony. “You’re buying every round.”

Pike walked out the door with Nick and Anthony trailing behind.

“What is going on?” Anthony asked. “I thought you were pissed at me.”

Pike stopped next to Anthony’s truck and shrugged. “I took some time to sit with the situation and reflect.”

Nick cleared his throat.

“And listened to the advice of a few friends. Here is what I realized. You said that even though you wanted her, you took a step back when you thought that she and I were feeling each other. That’s what makes you an amazing friend. Just because I had you up on this pedestal, thinking you were this paragon of virtue, doesn’t mean you can’t ever fuck up. She wasn’t my girlfriend—hell, she’d been pretty clear that she wasn’t interested in me at all. I pulled out some moves, too.”

Anthony held up a hand. “I don’t want to hear about it, thanks.”

Pike chuckled. “Fair enough. Besides, it’s obvious you love the girl. I can’t stay mad at you when you’re in love for the first time and already fucking up. You need me.”

“I don’t—” Anthony paused, considering. “How do you know?”

“That you need my help?” Pike asked.

“No, that I—”

“Can’t get it out yet? It’s always hardest the first time.” Or the second and third time, Pike thought. “As to how I know, you were about to tear Brodie apart for talking about your girl. You’ve either lost your mind or you’re in love.” Pike opened the passenger side door and waved a hand. “Now, get in the truck. Considering how pissed off Delilah was, this will require several mixed drinks and careful planning if you’re going to win her back.”

“You saw her?” Anthony asked.

“Oh yes. That is one angry woman.”

“Speaking of angry, why were you at the gym?” Anthony asked.

“I was talking to Noel about some things and suddenly needed to see you. I texted Nick to find out where you were and Nick texted back that something was about to go down I’d want to see, so I raced on over here to check it out. Watching you lose your cool? Priceless.”

Anthony grunted. “You’re both a couple of meddlesome fuckers.”

“I think the word you’re looking for is friends.” Pike pulled himself up and pounded the top of his truck. “Now move! Time’s a-wastin’!

PIKE

Stereotypically, the world portrays women sitting around eating ice cream and watching movies when they’re struggling romantically. Men go out drinking and try to meet someone new.

Hollywood got half the formula right.

Pike sat at the table with Anthony, Nick, Clark, Declan, and Sam, listening as they each tried to give Anthony advice on winning Delilah back. There was talk of mixtapes and flowers, but Anthony had axed them all. Pike took mental notes of his own, thinking about Ryler. Would a simple bouquet and apology do the trick, or would she need more?

Clark leaned forward next to Pike, drawing him out of his own thoughts.

“What does Delilah like?” Clark asked.

“Her Corgi, Leia,” Anthony said.

Pike laughed. “We could kidnap it and make her think it’s lost, but Anthony could find her like a damn hero, return her, and she is forever grateful,” Pike said, rubbing his hands together. “Jo could use a playmate for a few days.”

“You are a sick man,” Sam said, tossing a balled-up napkin at him.

Anthony shook his head. “I’m not doing that.”

“Fine, no dognapping.” Pike said, holding his hands up. “What else do you got?”

“What about a favorite song?” Nick chimed in.

“Oh! Her name. That song that has her name …” Anthony paused for several seconds, and then he belted out, “Hey there Delilah—”

Talk about a grand gesture! Anthony was a genius.

“That’s better than a boom box!” Pike exclaimed, shooting to his feet with his glass held high. “We shall march to her house and romance her with the power of song.”

“How do you ever get laid, Fish?”

Pike startled at Noel’s appearance, as if she’d come from thin air. When she leaned over to kiss Nick, her husband asked, “Hey, what are you doing here?”

“Picking up Ricki for book club now that her bartending shift is over.” Noel checked her phone. “She gets done with her bartending shift at six.”

“Since when are you in a book club?” Anthony asked.

“As of today,” Noel said, hanging on to the back of Nick’s chair. “I figured with you boys out plotting and scheming, I’d join the girls and see what kind of trouble we can get into.”

Pike scoffed. “Trouble at a book club? Book clubs are for sipping wine and gossiping.”

“How do you know?” Sam asked, smirking.

“My mom used to host one every Tuesday,” Pike said, grinning. “I snuck out of my room and listened in once. I was traumatized. ”

“Sounds like fun,” Noel said, giving Ricki a hug when she joined her. “See you later, boys. Behave.”

“Never,” Pike crowed, and the other men echoed him, except Anthony. Pike noticed him staring at his phone, but before he could bring Anthony back into the conversation, Pike looked up and saw Brodie and Trip walk through the door.

“Ah hell,” Pike said.

“What?” Nick asked.

“Trip, Brodie, and the goon squad just walked in.”

Brodie made a beeline for Anthony, and Pike was so tempted to burst into song to throw the guy off. A little Taylor Swift maybe? “Bad Blood”? “Trouble”?

The group of burly men dressed in varying colors of flannel shirts stopped like a wall of plaid next to their table.

“Russo,” Brodie said, smirking at Anthony, “I heard you and Pike are in charge of the winter games?”

“Yeah? What about it?” Anthony asked.

Brodie put his hand on the table, leaning over between Sam and Declan. “I just wanted to tell you that I’m going to enjoy kicking your ass.”

“Ha,” Pike said, pointing at the group of men. “You couldn’t kick a can if it was right in front of you.”

“You want to wager on that?” Trip asked.

“Absolutely,” Anthony said firmly, much to Pike’s surprise.

“If we win,” Brodie said, thumbing at his group, “you’re going to buy each of us a snowmobile.”

“And if we win,” Anthony said, leaning back in his chair casually, “we want your boat.”

“Deal,” Brodie said, holding out his hand, which Anthony took. Pike realized he was holding his breath and didn’t release it until the group of men walked away, laughing.

“That was a little too cocky,” Nick said.

Despite his reservations about making such a large bet, Pike scoffed, “I’m not worried about those clowns.” Pike stood up, grabbing Anthony by his arm. “It is time!”

The group of men stood up, whooping and hollering. Sam started chanting, “I don’t know but I’ve been told.” The group repeated after him, and he continued, “Mistletoe men are mighty bold.” He continued to pause, giving them a chance to follow along as they walked out of Brews and Chews. “We play for keeps and get the girl. Except for me, ’cause romance makes me hurl.”

The rest of them booed Sam while Pike sent Ryler a text, his buzz making the words fuzzy on the edges. I miss your smell.

“So, we’re going to walk all the way to Evergreen?” Clark said skeptically.

“Actually, Delilah is hosting,” Declan said, pointing to the left of the parking lot. “Holly was afraid people wouldn’t be able to get in with all the cars waiting to see the lights display.”

“Follow me!” Anthony called like a general commanding an army. “To victory!”

Pike laughed, skipping along with them. And to think, he almost missed out on all of this. The group slowed down, and Pike found himself falling in step with Sam. Anthony, Nick, and Clark were practicing the song ahead of them, while Declan walked in between them, typing on his phone. Maybe giving Holly a heads-up they were on their way? It would take them at least a half an hour of drunk walking, maybe longer, to get there. Pike didn’t want to spend the whole time in silence.

“I’m surprised you’re coming along on this little adventure,” Pike said, segueing the conversation.

Sam shrugged. “I’ve got nothing better to do tonight.”

“Really? I’d think you’d be out with whatever woman caught your eye this week.”

“Why do you act like I’m some lady-killer, when you’ve got a reputation yourself?” Sam asked, his voice gruff with irritation.

Pike reeled back in surprise. “What? I’m not judging you.”

“Sure feels like it. Every time you open your mouth. Not all of us are made for a happy ending, you know,” Sam said, shoving his hands into his pockets.

“I didn’t think you wanted one. I thought romance made you hurl, as you so eloquently put it.”

“We always scorn that which eludes us,” Sam said.

“Are you telling me the great Sam Griffin is looking for love?”

“Even if I was, I’m the bad guy. Women don’t look at me for long-term commitment. I’m the guy they use for a good time.”

Pike experienced a strange kinship with Sam, realizing that he’d thought women felt the same way about him. That was before Ryler and everything they’d been through .

“If you weren’t that guy, and you were trying to get back into a woman’s good graces, what would you do?”

Sam swiveled his way, frowning. “Are you asking me for relationship advice now?”

“No, I was just making friendly conversation, since we’re on a quest to help our friend woo his girl. Like you, I’m not exactly the guy women want to settle down with.”

“Maybe don’t tell them they snore like a trucker, and you’ll get a little further with them,” Sam said, smirking.

“Who told you that?” Pike asked.

“Sally, after the two of you broke up. She wanted a rebound, and I wasn’t in the mood to oblige, but apparently, spilling her guts about what went wrong between you was the next best thing.”

Pike had known about Sally chasing Sam, but where it used to bother him, now he really didn’t feel anything. Not even regret for how things ended.

“Yeah, well, my issue with telling women exactly what’s on my mind without sugarcoating it seems to be a pattern I need to break.”

“You can be honest with women about the important shit, like feelings and whatnot, but if they ask you how they look in an outfit, use finesse before answering.” Sam clapped him on the shoulder. “And if you fuck up, I’m a firm believer that being earnest and vulnerable with any woman is the way to get back into her good graces. Especially if you care about her.”

“For a guy who isn’t relationship material, you make a lot of sense,” Pike said.

“Maybe that whole saying that ends with ‘those who can’t, teach’ has a point.”