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but we have to do what’s right for our

community. If that means making a difficult

choice, then that’s what we’ll have to do.

The businesspeople walk away down the street.

James takes deep breath, shakes his head, and then walks into the café.

Chapter 9

Ellie

I’m glad Mariah didn’t punch me in the face; judging by her stance, she knows how. We climb into our separate vehicles and I lead Mariah through the city streets, down the side-roads, and along the twisty driveway to the cabin.

“Why the hell are you staying way out here?” Mariah asks, shutting her car door and crunching on the gravel toward me.

“You’ll see,” I singsong, though my heart feels very un-singsongy right now. I unlock the door and step inside to a welcoming blast of air conditioning. Mariah follows, and I shut the door behind her.

“Wow.” She takes another step in, turning in a circle as she regards my Christmas swag. She finishes her full three-sixty and gives me a perplexed look. “Did you do all this or did the place come like this?”

“I did it. I’m a method actor.”

She nods. “Of course you are.”

I’m too sad and tired to wonder if she’s being sarcastic or not. “Plus, I love Christmas. It’s kind of my thing.”

She grimaces. “I hate Christmas.”

“What! How can you hate Christmas? I have it on good authority that it’s the most wonderful time of the year.”

Her mouth twitches. I take it as a win.

But I’m too heartbroken to work any harder at getting her to smile. Watching Matt profess his feelings to Mariah, lying about how she’s the only woman in his life—while also telling the truth that there wouldn’t be anyone else showing up at his house, and then using the same line on her that he’d used on me—it was too much. I never should have gone there. But I’mglad I did. He’s such a smooth operator, I wouldn’t have believed he was a liar unless I’d witnessed it myself.

I drop my purse on the floor. “Wine?”

“Fuck yes.”

I move past Mariah to the kitchen and unscrew a bottle of merlot, pouring two full glasses.

“Just one glass, though. Onesmallglass,” Mariah chastises. “I have to work in the morning.”

“Sorry.” I pour some of hers into mine, filling it to the brim. “I guess I should be grateful I’m not on set tomorrow.” Handing Mariah her glass, I take mine to the living room and settle on the couch, trying not to think about last night when I was sitting in this exact same spot, snuggled up with Matt. Jax? Who knows.

Taking a long slurp of my wine, my throat tightens from the tannins and brings with it a little relief. I close my eyes and lean my head back against the couch. A moment later Mariah joins me, the cushions sinking in toward her. “Today really sucked,” I say, keeping my eyes closed.

“You can say that again.” I hear her sip, then swallow.

“Not just with the whole Matt-slash-Jax fiasco. I was so distracted by it I completely fumbled my first full day on set. I didn’t have any lines today—thank god—because I probably would have forgotten them even though I memorized the script weeks ago. I broke a coffee cup while sweeping the floor. How do you even do that? Like, I can’t even do my job as a barista, let alone act in a movie as one.” I rub my face with my free hand. “They had to do three retakes, and I wasn’t even the main focus of the scene. Theyhateretakes. It’s a one-shot deal usually, even if people flub their lines a little, since it costs so much money and we’re on a really tight budget. Yueyi looked so disappointed in me. Probably second-guessing hiring me at all. I’m such a shitty actress.”

Mariah nudges me, and I open my eyes to look at her. “You’re definitely not a shitty actress. I’ve stared at your faceand listened to you talk for hours, and I didn’t even recognize you in the bar.”

“Thanks,” I say, though I don’t quite believe it.

“It was Jax’s fault you had a hard time today.”

I blow a raspberry between my lips. “You’re right. I couldn’t stay focused after finding out we’ve been seeing the same guy.”