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"What?"

"The sporting goods store moved last month."

"Oh, for God's sake," I said."Nowyou're joking with me?"

"It's no joke," he said. "They moved to Woodside."

By now, I felt like screaming. "Alright, you really want me to let you have it?"

"Sure, why not?"

"Alright." I lowered my voice to a raw hiss. "You're being a total snork-weasel. Me? I like roses and balloons – yellow, by the way. And cookies. But what doyoulike?Youlike being miserable. But has anyone ever told you that misery is contagious? Well,I'mhere to tell you, Mason Blastoviak, that you're not makingmemiserable. Not anymore. Now if you'll excuse me,I'vegot a stupid present to buy."

And with that, I ended the call and marched straight into the nearest department store. I stalked directly to the menswear department, where I found a sales associate – some guy in his twenties – standing behind the main counter.

When he saw me coming, he gave me an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, but we're closing."

As If I didn't know."When?"

He glanced at his watch. "Two minutes."

"Terrific," I said. "I knowexactlywhat I want." I yanked Mason's envelope from my purse and retrieved one of those hundred-dollar bills. I slapped it onto the counter and said, "Give me the ugliest tie you've got."

The guy frowned. "You serious?"

"Dead serious," I said. "If there's an ugly tie contest, I wantthistie to win – firstandsecond place."

The guy gave a slow nod. "You know what?"

"What?"

He grinned. "I know just the thing."

Chapter 50

Cami

Soon, I was striding toward the mall's main entrance with Mason's new necktie stuffed deep into the pocket of my winter coat.

The clerk had offered free gift-wrapping, but I hadn't had the heart to take him up on it, not with the mall closing early and everyone so anxious to leave.

So instead, I'd asked him to simply stuff my purchase into a small plastic shopping bag and call it good.

If the tie got wrinkled, all the better.

By now, the mall was practically empty, which was pretty surreal, considering how crowded it had been when I'd first arrived with Arden and Willow.

My steps faltered.Willow.

Oh, my God.I stopped in the middle of the main thoroughfare and squeezed my eyes shut in dawning mortification.

That'swhy Mason had contacted me.It had to be.

He was notoriously protective when it came to his little sister, which totally explained why he'd been so insistent that I leave the mall immediately. IfIhad a child, or cripes, even if Willow were still with me, I would've left long ago.

I tried to think. Arden had promised to tell Brody to tell Mason that Willow would be baking cookies at Arden's place. But with multiple people in the line of communication, it would be incredibly easy for the message to get delayed.

Plus, Mason had obviously left work early. Apparently, he hadn't been pleased to find his sister gone when he returned home. Given the horrible weather, I couldn't exactly blame him.