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I scribble the violation as quickly as I can, popping it on Ryan’s nightstand before he can wake up Then I slip out the bedroom door and down the stairs with my shoes in my hand

And then I nearly trip over Rudy

Thank God the dog doesn’t bark He s his tail and sniffs at my pockets

“Whoa there,” says an unfamiliar male voice An unfauaranteed to wake up Ryan I look up to find the source of the voice and find a tall, extre before me

Clearly this is one of Ryan’s brothers Based on the package of genetic perfection and the fact that he’s standing in Ryan’s house with Rudy

“Rudy, who’s your friend?” the guy asks “I’m Jake, by the way”

He extends his hand, and I slip mine into his for the briefest, e in the circumstances

“Maggie,” I tell hilance of myself in the hallway mirror tells me that I have bedhead,my shoes in one hand I place thehten, trying to nity

“I gave Ryan a ride,” I tell him, like he needs an explanation He doesn’t, I’ how that sounded “In ot snowed in”

“That was nice of you,” Jake says, clearly on the verge of laughing “I’m sure he appreciated it”

“Ha biscuit, I hand it over to Rudy, who has been patiently sitting at reat otta run”

I bolt before Jake can say another word Once in ive myself a pep talk

“People do crazy shit at the holidays,” I tell myself “Christmas is a menace”

I gasp out loud at myself Who am I even?

“You are not responsible for Ryan Sheppard’s poor behavior,” I aood about Christmas Not you”

The thought settles me I take a deep breath and head home, ready to restart this day with a hot shower and perhaps a peppermint hot chocolate, if necessary