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Christmas cookies, spent hours icing them.

ANNIE

He can bake?

JENNA

(nodding)

He was an excellent baker. He’d bake

dozens and dozens of cookies to sell in

the café and give all the leftovers

away at the Small Business Association

Christmas party.

ANNIE

I can’t imagine him at a party.

JENNA

Believe it or not, he used to be the life

of it. And he’s an excellent dancer. He’s

lost sight of what Christmas means, it seems.

ANNIE

Maybe he just needs to be reminded

of the true meaning of Christmas.

KATE

(smiling)

I think you might be right.

Chapter 7

Ellie

I should be sad I’m not filming today—again. But I’m not, because last night Matt messaged me about seeing him again, this time for an official date! One side of me thinks he probably just wants to spare his appliances from my horny half-baked forced-proximity meet-cutes. The other side knows from the way he looked at me, the way he leaned against me during the movie, the way he couldn’t help but give me a chaste kiss as he left, that he’s just as eager for this date as I am.

Though I bet I require a lot more prep work than he does.

I get up early and exfoliate, then shave every hair off my body from the neck down, exfoliate again, scrub myself clean in the shower, and lotion every inch of my skin. Despite my best efforts, my unruly hair can’t decide if it’s wavy or curly and ends up looking like the same mess it always does. And my makeup is so poorly done I consider driving into town and paying Mariah a visit.

I can’t wait to tell her about this tomorrow—my first official day of filming. I don’t have any lines yet, but hey, at least I’m on set. I clench my fists and teeth, overcome with excitement at all the possibilities ahead.

A knock on the door startles me. I glance at my phone—eleven thirty.He’s early!If he’s even half as excited as I am then this is going to go very well.

I give myself one more look in the mirror and practise my cute-but-casual smile, then go greet Matt. The door creaks open, letting in a blast of sunlight and early-morning July warmth.