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“No, no” I nod encouragingly, waving a hand in the air “Don’t stop Keep going”

“I was an asshole,” he says “I couldn’t see as right in front ofwithyou, was just a shiny fucking distraction froet it Because you know the real world, Maggie You’re not using this place to escape it You’re here because this place is the best version of the real world that exists And you knohy that is?”

“No?” I reply, still staring at him while my brain and my heart compete with each other over the reappearance of Ryan Sheppard My brain not quite sure any of this is real,that bitch to shut up

“Because you’re here,” he says, stepping closer to my booth “You make Reindeer Falls what it is, and you make it the best version of that, every day This town neverto me before because you weren’t here And,chance that I’hostly hallucination, “wherever you are, Maggie Harrison, that’s where I want to be Because I love you”

I stare at hi blue eyes, at his perfect mouth, and I knoithout a doubt, that I’ve found my home

And it’s not Reindeer Falls

It’s him

I lean forward in rab hio ahead and kiss you even though these are not valid kissing booth tickets because that is absolutely the hottest thing anyone has ever said to me”

And then I do kiss him

I kiss hiround, as snow falls from the sky

As the bells onme the happiest elf in the land

The End