Page 43 of Mistletoe Mischief

“Zonked is a word?” Ryler teased. “Isn’t that from Scooby Doo?”

“That would be zoinks,” Kit quipped.

Ryler appreciated that Kit was best in one-on-one interactions, rather than group settings. They got out of the SUV and walked toward the entrance. Ryler stopped before they went inside to admire the store window of a cute cartoon couple enjoying a latte together. Kit held the door open, and Ryler passed through.

People took up nearly every table and comfy chair in the place, and the inside of the shop was bustling with their conversations. The line was five deep, and Kit and Ryler scooched forward so there was room for anyone who came in behind them.

Ryler recognized the blonde from the tree farm standing a few people ahead of them in the line, and when their gazes met, she waved.

“Who is that?” Kit asked.

“She helped us at the tree farm yesterday. I think her name is Merry.”

“She’s cute,” Kit said.

“And very pregnant.” Ryler laughed.

“Married?”

“Pretty sure.”

“Damn,” Kit said, grinning, “well, there goes my chance to live out my pregophile fantasy.”

“I wasn’t aware that was even a thing.” Ryler laughed.

“Maybe not the true technical term, but it exists.”

“Aren’t you still with Mae?” Ryler asked, studying Kit’s face.

“No, we broke up right after Halloween.”

“How did I not know this?” she asked.

Kit shrugged. “We don’t really talk about relationship stuff.”

That was true. While Kit was fun to be around and was incredibly talented with a camera, they didn’t have deep conversations about love and the meaning of life.

“Are you doing okay? You and Mae were together for a long time.”

“Yeah, you know, we just drifted apart. We met in college, and even though it’s been six years, I wasn’t ready to take the next step. So she ended things, and it’s for the best.”

“How come you weren’t ready for the next step?” she asked.

“We’re on the road so much and gone for a week or more at a time,” he said, shoving his hands in his coat pockets. “If I want to get married, that means sticking in one place and settling down in a house with all the responsibilities that come along with it. I don’t know if I’m ready to do that. I honestly don’t know if I’ll ever be ready to do that.” The line moved, and they both took a step forward before Kit continued, “What about you? Things didn’t work out with that lawyer from your condo?”

“No, things didn’t work out with him. Turns out that people don’t just pause and wait for you to get back when you leave on an extended trip to Bali,” she said with a bitter laugh. “If they don’t hear from you, they tend to move on.”

Kit chuckled. “Strange how that happens.”

“I know, right?” she said, feeling better about what happened with Ollie. It was a learning experience, one she would keep close to her heart so that she didn’t take anyone in her life for granted again.

They ordered their coffees and stepped to the side of the pickup counter. Merry walked over to them with a red-haired woman in tow, smiling brightly.

“Hi, Ryler,” Merry said. “This is my sister, Holly. Ryler is the assistant on that podcast Pike loves so much.”

Ryler’s heart fluttered at the secondhand praise and held her hand out with a smile. “It’s very nice to meet you.” Ryler waved a hand toward her companion. “This is Kit, who is the wizard behind the camera and video shots we use on Instagram.”

Kit shook both their hands and greeted them with a shy “Hi.”