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here forever. Then you came along.

ANNIE

Me?

KATE

For the first time in years

I saw him smile. And I knew that

maybe, just maybe, he had a chance

at being happy again. He had a

chance of a future. A chance to find

love again. That’s why I kept

pushing you two together.

ANNIE

We just met. I couldn’t, I mean...

KATE

Love doesn’t care about time. It just

cares about the truth. About honesty.

Can you be honest with yourself?

Chapter 25

Ellie

I should have asked Mariah to help me get the Christmas tree out. Despite its small size, it’s not as easy to manoeuvre as I’d assumed. It’s prickly and hard to grab on to, and I’m making a mess on the floor with needles that I’ll have to clean up. I’m already running late, and the last thing I need is yet another mess. Maybe I should just leave it; something tells me that Matt won’t be giving me a good star rating on Airbnb no matter how clean the cabin is.

The tree is stuck halfway out the door and I’m trying to jam it through when I hear knuckles rapping on the door frame. Startled, I glance up.

Well, speak of the devil.

Matt wears jeans and a tight black T-shirt, his hair tied back in a knot, and he’s doing theboyfriend leanagainst the door. What once would have turned me into horny goop now has no effect, aside from causing mild irritation.

“Hey, sorry, am I late? I thought my checkout time was eleven.” I drop the tree, sending a slew of needles tinkling onto the floor, and take a step back to eye the time on the stove.

“No, you’re not late. I came early, hoping I’d catch you.” He gives me a guarded smile.

I fidget, uneasy. “Oh. Great.”

“Here, let me help you.” He takes hold of the tree, easily yanking it through the door. He carries it with one hand and tosses it like a twig into the woods.

“Thanks,” I say, only a little jealous of his strength. “Why are you here?”

He dusts off his hands on his pants. “I had to come make sure the place is back in order.”

“I have a bit of sweeping to do.” I gesture at the needles. “Otherwise it’s back to normal.”