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Shit.By now,Ididn't even believe it. I reached up to rub the back of my neck. "Believe what you want," I said.

"Oh, believe me, I will. But here's another question. Is that what you wantCamito believe?"

No. I didn't.

And I did.

When I said nothing in reply, Arden kept on going. "Because shedoesbelieve it, you know. And I’m just saying, if it's not true, you're making the biggest mistake of your life." She pushed herself up from the chair as she added, "And you damn well know it."

And with that, she reached into the pocket of her coat and pulled out a plastic sandwich bag with maybe a half-dozen Christmas cookies – some broken, some intact. She slapped the baggie into my hand and said, "See you tomorrow."

"What?"

"Christmas dinner. Remember? And just so you know, if you don't show up, we're coming out to get you."

"Who's we?"

"Me and Brody. Because whether you like it or not,I'mfamily, too. And I'm not going away."

"I never said I wanted you to."And I didn't.She made Brody happier than I'd ever seen him, which was several times happier than myself, especially now.

Arden said, "Yeah, well, you haven't exactly thrown out the welcome mat either. But that's alright. You'll come around eventually."

Hell, I was halfway there now.

Maybe more than halfway.

And maybe I should've told her, but my thoughts were too full of Cami. As I walked Arden to the door, I couldn’t help but wonder what I might've given to see Cami on my doorstep. Or in my living room. Or hell, even in the pantry – naked or not.

Just before Arden walked out the door, she turned and asked, "You want some sisterly advice?"

I shrugged but said nothing.

With a tight smile, she said, "You might want to remember, not all women are like your mother."

I knew that.

But I also knew something Arden didn't. The story of my parents – it was more complicated than she knew. More complicated than Brody knew either.

Because unlike my two younger brothers,Iwasn't blameless.

Chapter 56

Mason

Arden's visit made me think – as if I hadn't been thinking enough already.

I'd been a messbeforeshe showed up. But afterward, I was utterly spent. On the upside, it wasn't Arden, or even Brody, who brought Willow home later that afternoon.

It was Chase, who'd apparently decided it would be a good idea to spend the night in one of my guest rooms. Maybe it was for Willow's sake. Maybe it was for mine. Or hell, maybe it was for his own.

Chase – he was messed up, too, in his own obnoxious way.

Regardless, I was glad for his company – not for myself, but for Willow, who deserved a happier Christmas Eve than I felt capable of providing.

Sure, I had the gifts, and the premade dinner, along with maybe three dozen Christmas cookies, courtesy of Willow, who explained that the cookies in the baggie had been only a sample to show just how good they were.

On that, she was right.