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“No, you’re good” Max bent his head to exalass balls from ancient tissue paper

“Done!” Dad proclaimed He flopped onto one of the love seats “Tinsel is your job, kids”

Meg had the long red and green o, and Max helped her loop them around the tree They had to redo one of thee

“Wanna help us hang the ornaments?” Max asked Jeremy

“Are you sure?”

“Of course!” Valerie exclai him a box “Get in there”

Meg, Max, and Jeremy went to hile the others drank and ate and pointed out where they should hang things so there were no bare patches Hanging a dangling silver ornament, Jeremy leaned into the tree and inhaled deeply

“It set real trees”

“Have you never had a real tree before?” Valerie asked, her eyebrows raised

“Nope My mom says it’s too messy and a fire hazard”

Valerie said, “Well, yes, but it’s tradition Also, we need more cider”

Papy started rocking the way he did when he was going to heave hiet it!”

“I’ll help you,” Jere Max into the kitchen His phone buzzed, and he pulled it out “Oh!”

“Did your dad reply?” Inhaling the sweet, spicy deliciousness, Max stirred the pot of cider that’d been left on a low simmer

“No, it’s… I didn’t realize—oh! Holy shit” Jerelanced back toward the living room

Laughing, Max asked, “What?”

Jere app I was just curious to see if there was anyone else around here using it I didn’t want to hook up with someone!”

Max worked hard on keeping his smile in place “It’s okay, dude You’re allowed to want to hook up” Which was absolutely true There was zero reason Max should have the ladle in a death grip “Usually have to go to Barrie, but once in a while there’ll be ‘straight’ guys in the sticks on the doho wanna get busy in their pickup”

“Wow” Jereitimately shocked, which was adorable “I didn’t even realize anyone could see my profile”

“Probably have to opt-out in the settings” It was all Max could do not to snatch the phone away and delete the app, which would definitely be a dick e Jeremy if this hat he wanted He was free to explore and have fun “So who is it?” He couldn’t resist adding, “Can’t i around here”