Chapter Twenty-one
Y ou should send her flowers. Classic show of remorse.”
The men at the table booed Clark’s suggestion and Anthony sunk back against the chair. They’d been at this for hours, drinking copious amounts of alcohol and batting ideas back and forth about the best way to apologize.
“You can boo me all you want,” Clark said, popping his collar with a smirk, “but I am a happily married man and you are the ones stumped at how to please a woman.”
“Whoa now, choose your words wisely, little brother,” Sam Griffin said, holding up his tumbler in a salute, the tattoo sleeves on his arms colorful and intricate. “I am the master at woman pleasing.”
“And yet, you’re still single,” Pike said.
“By choice, leprechaun.”
Pike spluttered. “That’s just rude.”
Anthony chuckled, the tension of the last few days eased by the jovial heckling of the men around him. He’d been surprised by Sam’s presence, as he usually worked too late to join them, and Anthony forgot how much he liked the elder Griffin.
Declan tipped back a pink shot and wheezed, “I decorated Holly’s house.”
“I made Noel a mixed CD,” Nick said, flipping a quarter into a shot glass.
“That’s so nineties,” Pike joked.
“Maybe,” Nick said, pointing a thumb at his chest. “But it worked.”
“What does Delilah like?” Clark asked.
“Her corgi, Leia,” Anthony blurted.
Pike grinned. “We could kidnap it and make her think it’s lost.”
Sam chucked a balled-up napkin at Pike. “You are a sick man.”
Anthony shook his head, the world spinning a bit. “I’m not doing that.”
“Fine, no dognapping.” Pike threw the paper ball at Anthony. “What else do you got?”
“What about a favorite song?” Nick chimed in.
“Oh! Her name. That song that has her name … ” It took Anthony a moment to remember it through the cloud of alcohol and then he belted out, “Hey there Delilah—”
“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?” Noel asked, leaning over to give her husband a kiss.
“Hey, what are you doing here?” Nick asked.
“Picking up Ricki up for book club.” She stood up straight, pulling her phone from her pocket to glance at the screen. “She gets done with her bartending shift at six.”
“Since when are you in a book club?” Anthony asked.
“As of today.” Noel placed her hand on the back of Nick’s chair and grinned wickedly. “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.
“My mom used to host one every Tuesday. 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 who stared at the screen of his phone. He’d changed his background to a picture of Delilah with her head on his shoulder, laughing at something he’d said.
“Ah hell,” Pike said.
“What?”
“Trip, Brodie, and the goon squad just walked through the door.”
Anthony looked up and saw Brodie making a beeline toward him. “Russo, I heard you and Pike are in charge of the winter games?”
“Yeah? What about it?”
“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.
If Anthony wasn’t hammered, he would have recognized the alarm bells going off in his head, but instead, he said, “Absolutely.”
“If we win, you’re going to buy each of us a snow mobile.”
“And if we win, we want your boat.”
“Deal.”
The other men walked away, laughing.
“That was a little too cocky,” Nick said.
“I’m not worried about those clowns.” Pike stood up, grabbing Anthony by his arm. “It is time!”
“How did you talk me into hosting a book club?”
Delilah was putting out the plastic cups Holly had brought onto her dining room table, the sound of excited feminine chatter surrounding her. Holly had proposed the idea of starting a monthly book club for their friend group as they’d gotten busier with their lives, but it had spread beyond the original six women. There were several women that Delilah didn’t recognize who had come as guests.
“Because you love me and know my place is a mess to get to during the holidays.”
She agreed with Holly. Cars lined up and down the block to see the Christmas displays in Evergreen Circle during the holiday season and there was no way of getting into the place unless people parked down the road and trekked in. Unfortunately, it had started snowing earlier and hadn’t let up yet, which would have made that situation even worse.
Holly wrapped an arm around Delilah’s shoulder and squeezed. “It will be fun. I promise.”
Delilah hoped so because she could use a little fun. After her interlude with Anthony in the alley, she’d wanted to come home and cry. Delilah had heard of chubby chasers, men who were attracted to plus-size women and didn’t want to go public, but she’d never imagined Anthony would be one of them. She hadn’t realized the thought had been at the back of her mind until she’d said it out loud, but once it was out there, she couldn’t take it back.
How can you think that? He told Pike he’d liked you for a year.
Only that confession had come after he’d been caught with her. No one had known about the two of them and the first thing he does today is pull her out of sight?
You didn’t tell Holly about the two of you. Maybe you’re doing what you accused him of. Making excuses to run.
“That makes no sense,” she grumbled.
“What do you mean?” Holly asked with a frown.
Delilah hadn’t meant to say anything and laughed. “Nothing! I’m just talking to myself.”
“Want to go mingle before we get started?”
What she wanted to tell her best friend was no. She didn’t have the desire to do anything but hide in her room with Leia, but instead, she nodded. “Let me get a drink first and I’ll join you.”
“Okay, pumpkin.”
Delilah watched Holly as she approached Officer Wren, Noel, Ricki, and another woman she didn’t recognize.
“You’re Delilah, right?”
Delilah jumped, spilling a little wine onto the tablecloth as the woman approached her out of nowhere. “Shit.”
“Sorry, didn’t mean to sneak up on you. I’m Ryler Colby. I’m the personal assistant to Alia Cole.” The woman extended her hand and Delilah took it.
“Nice to meet you.” Delilah had no idea who Alia Cole was but Ryler was adorable, with a genuinely friendly smile and a smattering of freckles across her nose and cheeks. Her dark brown eyes were lined with thick lashes that Delilah would have killed for and her sandy brown hair hung to her shoulders in loose waves. She was midsize and her green cropped sweater and high-waisted jeans were casual but chic.
“Your outfit is so cute,” Delilah said.
“Thank you. I’m a huge thrifter, so these jeans I snagged for six bucks and the sweater was five. Still had tags on it.”
“That’s awesome. Unfortunately, most clothes I find thrifting look like something my grandma would wear.”
“Not where I shop. You ever want to take a road trip, I’ll show you some hidden gems with fantastic finds. Can I get a glass of that?”
Delilah poured her a cup and passed it to her. “So, I apologize, but who is Alia Cole?”
“Ah, Instagram travel blogger Alia Cole? She’s the gorgeous blonde over there. She’s my cousin and boss.”
“Is that weird?”
“Sometimes.” Ryler leaned over, lowering her voice. “Full disclosure?”
“Um, sure.”
“I was in the car with Pike on Sunday. When he saw you with … what’s his name? Anthony?”
“Oh, yeah. That was—”
“None of my business. We were on our way to meet Alia when he saw you.”
“I didn’t get out of the car until you were gone. How did you know it was me?”
“I heard your name and put two and two together. He was on a pretty good tirade on Sunday.”
Delilah’s face burned. She could only imagine what he’d said about her to this stranger. “Just to be clear, I’m not in the habit of causing issues between friends. I try to avoid drama.”
“Are you kidding? You were not the issue. He had nothing negative to say about you at all. Anthony, on the other hand, was getting a lot of heat, but I think they made up.”
“Well, I hope they make up soon. They’ve been friends a long time.” Delilah studied Ryler with a smile. “Sounds like you’ve been spending a lot of time with Pike.”
“Yeah, he’s taking me around Mistletoe so I can do research … for Alia, I mean.”
“And how do you like Mistletoe so far?”
“It’s beautiful. I’ve heard all about your holiday festivities and I’m excited to hang around and join in.”
“Where are you from?” Delilah asked.
“Boise originally, but I think I’ll be traveling quite a bit after this.”
“Well, if there’s one thing Mistletoe goes all out for, it’s Christmas.”
“Not a fan?” Ryler asked before taking a sip of her wine.
“It’s not about being a fan. I’m just not as diehard as my best friend.”
“Which is an amazing Christmas movie, by the way.”
Delilah laughed. “Don’t say that too loud or you’ll start a rumble. That is a hot-button topic.”
“Gotcha. I love your shirt, by the way.”
Delilah glanced down at the electric blue off-the-shoulder sheath she’d pulled from the back of her closet, a new purchase she’d snagged over the weekend. It made her feel fancy and feminine, and she’d bought it to wear out with Anthony.
So much for that.
“Thank you. It made me feel pretty.” She shared a small smile with Ryler.
“You’re gorgeous.”
“I appreciate that. You’re not trying to butter me up and sell me something, are you?”
Ryler laughed. “No, I just call it like I see it. And I’m trying this new thing where I don’t hold back. Everything I think, I’m saying it.”
“That could be dangerous.”
“Maybe, but I’ve spent a lot of time keeping everything close to the breast, afraid of offending someone or embarrassing others. I’ve finally decided I don’t give a shit. If someone doesn’t like me, warts and all, I’m fine on my own,” Ryler said, shrugging.
“Damn, girl. I need that energy in my life.” Delilah grinned, waving her cup around the room. “I got persuaded to play hostess at the last minute when I really wanted to escape into my room.”
“Hey, if you want to do that, I’ll totally cover for you.” Ryler wrinkled her brow. “Oh, you’re looking for Delilah? I think she’s in the kitchen. Not there? Oh, you know what, I think she had to pee.”
“You’re good.”
“That’s why Alia keeps me around. I’m the best.”
A steady rise of male voices registered and Delilah looked around the room. “Do you hear that?”
“What am I hearing?”
“It sounds like singing.”
Ryler frowned, standing perfectly still.
Suddenly, there was a pounding at the door.
“Delilah!”
She covered her mouth with her hand at Anthony’s bellow. The entire house of women quieted, gathering in the dining room doorway to watch.
“I think that’s for you,” Ryler said.
Delilah crossed the room to answer the door. Holly joined her, whispering, “What’s going on?”
“I don’t know.” Delilah opened the door and stared at the group of men standing in her yard. Anthony was front and center, looking sheepish.
“What are you doing here?” she hissed at them.
“We have come courtin’,” Pike said.
“No, we’re not,” Sam said.
Delilah grabbed her coat from the hook and stepped onto the porch, wrapping her arms around herself as the cold hit her. “Again, why are you all gathered on my lawn?”
“I’m getting to that,” Anthony said, clearing his throat. “Nick?”
Nick held his phone up, and the first notes of “Hey There Delilah” sounded and suddenly, Anthony was singing at the top of his lungs, the men behind him humming along with him.
“Oh, it’s what you do to me!” Anthony belted. He wasn’t bad, but he was slightly offbeat, and obviously a little drunk.
“Oh my God,” Holly said behind her. Delilah realized all the women were filing out onto the porch or watching from the window as he serenaded her.
He threw his hands out to his side as he sang, “And you’re to blame!”
Delilah fought a smile as the men chorused, “Oooooooh,” but her gaze remained on the disheveled man who hadn’t looked away from her once. Her neighbors had all stepped out into their yards to watch, some of them laughing. Others shaking their heads.
The song ended and Delilah didn’t move as Anthony took a few steps toward her, grinning.
“Aren’t carolers supposed to sing Christmas songs?” she asked.
“Not when they’re trying to win back their girl.”
Delilah’s stomach flipped and an eruption of feminine “aws” echoed on the porch.
Anthony blinked, as if realizing for the first time that they had a rather large audience.
“I didn’t know you were having a party.”
“It’s book club.”
He climbed up on the first step, swaying. “What book are you reading?” he asked, smiling at her.
“Stay focused, man! I am freezing my balls off!” Declan said.
“Right, sorry.” He cleared his throat. “Delilah Gill. I like you and want to take you out on a date. ’Cause I like you.”
“You already said that,” she whispered.
Even on the step below, he still towered over her and leaned in. “I thought it bore repeating. I like the hell out of you, and I will shout it to the world any time you doubt me.”
“Would you kiss him already?” Holly hissed.
“I swear, if you don’t, I will!” another woman called from inside the house.
“Will you date me, Delilah?”
Delilah laughed. “You are very drunk.”
“That is a statement of fact but not what I’m looking for.”
“And you’ll get an answer when you’re sober.”
“Booo,” the men on her front yard hollered.
“Sloshed or not, that was pretty epic,” Ryler said, leaning against the railing. “Although the redhead was pitchy.”
Pike glowered at her. “Witch, I have the voice of an angel.”
“A fallen angel.”
Suddenly, Pike bent over and gathered up a handful of snow, letting it fly. It missed Ryler and hit Holly on the side of her face. Delilah’s mouth dropped open as Holly dived off the porch.
“You’re a dead man, Pike!”
“I wasn’t aiming at you!” he protested, hiding behind one man after another. “Declan, control your woman!”
“I don’t know, man. I kinda wanna see what she does when she gets you.”
Wives and girlfriends passed Delilah to join in the fray, while the bystanders whooped and cheered. Snow exploded against the side of her house and the window and women dived back inside, slamming the door closed.
“We’re going to get the cops called on us if we don’t simmer down,” Wren said, making a motion to quiet down with her hands.
“Officer Wren, is that you?” Sam called. “I didn’t think you knew what fun was.”
“Smug son of a bitch,” she muttered, hopping off the porch. Her blond hair was up in a high ponytail that swung as she bent over to get a handful of snow. “You’ve been asking for this for weeks.”
“Well come on, hot stuff! Catch me if you can!”
“Delilah?” Anthony said, the deep rumble drawing her attention away from the chaos around them.
“Yeah?”
“Pike and I aren’t fighting anymore.”
“I can see that. And I’m glad.”
“You said when I fixed it with Pike to tell you. That you were mine but you weren’t going to wait forever. I may be inebriated, but I remember everything. I know what I’m saying.” Anthony stepped up next to her and cradled her face in his hands. “But if you want to hear it when I sober up tomorrow, I’ll tell you then. And the next day. And the day after that.”
“I get the picture,” she laughed softly.
Suddenly Anthony turned sheet white and before she could fully get out of the way, he bent over and puked on her front porch. Vomit splashed onto her shoes and pants.
“Seriously, again?!” she said.
“I think I’m feeling better now,” Anthony said.