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I shut the door to my room and lean back against it. I press my lips together where the taste of Remi’s kiss still lingers.

My dad was right. All I had to do was set my pride aside and stop playing games.

My phone buzzes in my pocket. It’s been doing that all night, but when a beautiful woman like Remi is by your side, you don’t worry about checking your phone. I pull it out and see my sibling group chat.

Brooke: Matt, what’s the update? How are things going with Remi?

Tessa: Did the ignoring work?

Meg: Please tell me you didn’t ignore her like Tessa said.

I laugh at my nosy sisters as I shoot them a text.

Matt: Ladies, calm down. Everything between Remi and me is perfect.

Their responses come firing back like bullets.

Brooke: So you guys are back together?

Tessa: It’s because of the ignoring, isn’t it? You’re welcome.

Meg: Did you ever figure out why she broke up with you in the first place?

Remi’s scared. She’s had it rough. Her mother was never around and never followed through on what she said she’d do. I don’t blame Remi for having trust issues. It seems like we’re making big strides at figuring things out. She wouldn’t have kissed me like that if she wasn’t planning on getting back together with me.

Matt: Yeah, we’re fine now.

Meg: I’m so confused. How can you be fine?

Matt: I don’t know. We just are.

Matt: I'll tell you guys all about it some other time, okay? Right now, I’m going to bed.

Brooke: Matt, just be careful.

I shake my head. Why would I need to be careful? I’m going to a wedding tomorrow, not a bank robbery.

CHAPTER 29

REMI

SEVEN MONTHS AGO

“Is there anything I can help you with?” I ask Matt’s mom, Marilyn, as I walk into the kitchen. I’m hoping she says no, because everything she’s making for Christmas Eve dinner seems so overwhelming. There’s beef brisket, mashed potatoes, gravy, homemade rolls, vegetables, a fancy salad, and that’s not including the appetizers and desserts already set out.

“I think I’ve got everything covered.”

She can say that again.

She smiles at me. Matt has her eyes, but that’s where the similarities stop. She has short black hair, much darker than his light brown.

“You just sit back and relax,” she says.

There’s no chance that I’ll be able to relax. I’m entirely out of place here in the Johnson home.

My eyes scan over the table where a festive green tablecloth and holly berries are spread out. Beautiful glass Christmas plates, Christmas glasses, red fabric napkins, and fancy silverware are in front of each chair. Beyond the smell of the delicious food, the room is full of candles that smell like pine.

The entire house looks like it has been pulled straight off of a Hallmark movie set. Who celebrates the holidays like this? I thought this kind of warmth only existed in movies.