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"I pro back in Ben’s arave me solace Not the kind of fairytale love that the movies portrayed What we had was real We were real We ave me piece of mind to know that

"Co where we are," he said, releasing his tight hold onthat my mom, dad, and brother were here in New York war thehtful and sweet of you"

Takingroohosting their lips

"Everything okay?"one hand possessively curled around reat, Mo her know there were no hard feelings for dragging me over here

My dad and brother re us as they quietly sipped their drinks Watching me with Ben, my dad’s mouth curled into a lazy suarded, he nodded soreement to Ben

Now that I was hly The ten-foot evergreen tree s I didn’t kno he’d et a Christmas tree delivered to a hotel roo he wouldn’t do for ht filled my heart with love

My mom, ever the hostess, ensured everyone had a cocktail in their hands and encouraged us to eat The hors d’oeuvres did look delicious and sry?" Ben asked

"A little," I adh to prepare me a small plate of bruschetta, spicy shrimp on skewers, and mushrooms stuffed with feta cheese

Yum

I accepted the plate and nibbled on a bite of shrimp The ely hungry

Ben helped himself to a shrie hand once again finding my hip to curl around me possessive and sure

After we’d eaten all the appetizers and devoured the mini chocolate cheesecakes for dessert, my mom shuffled us to sit down around the tree

My parents, Ellie, and Porter sunk into the inviting sofa and ared on the floor next to the tree It was the spot I always took at ho to pass out the presents Ben settled next to uys were coifts for you," I coifts I’ether"