Page 7 of A Very Addicted Christmas

“I don’t know.”They were wearing ski masks.“Maybe in their twenties?” They sounded younger more than older. “I don’t want to press charges or anything. It’s not that big of a deal, and I don’t want to turn it into one.”

“Let me call security first, bud,” my dad starts, but I interject fast.

“This is my life, Dad. I don’t want this to hit the front page. Nothing happened, and they’ll spin a narrative that says something did.”

Theyare the media.

They are people on the internet.

They are you.

I get it. Theories are fun and wild things. But I’m real. And those theories have serious impacts on my day to day. If I can minimize that, I’m taking it.

It’s not that easy to convince my parents. They love me. They want to protect me, but thankfully they understand where I’m coming from. After about an hour, they agree not to involve any police and to just let these guys go.

Our private security team will keep an eye on them so they don’t return. During our phone call, more security already booked flights to Vail within the next hour.

“We love you,” my mom says over and over.

“I love you too.” We hang up, and I change into my swimsuit. I grab a complimentary pool towel off the shelf, and I exit my hotel room.

Declan is here, and a few other security are with him. But the mayhem is gone with the two guys. Everything is taken care of.

“Thanks,” I tell Declan, genuinely grateful that he was here. I know my parents are too, and I’m betting Uncle Ryke will be attached to my side like he’s my second bodyguard for the rest of the trip.

Declan nods.

“I’m going to the pool,” I remind him.

“Whenever you’re ready.”

I don’t linger.

On my way there, I’m thinking about how I won’t scare my siblings with this story. I think about how some of my family will never know this happened, but I’m positive all of security will.

The indoor pool is empty. Everyone must be at the slopes or eating breakfast. I toss my towel on a lounge chair, and I walk onto the diving board.

I roll out my shoulders and stretch my arms. Inhaling.

Exhaling.

And I dive in an arc and cut into the warm water.

PART TWO

DECEMBER 2037

TWO

THE GIRL SQUAD’S POWERPOINT

DECEMBER 2037

AFTER CHAPTER 7 IN LOVERS LIKE US

We listened to "What I Know Is All Quicksand" by Giant Rooks plus all the music mentioned in the bonus while writing this scene.

Character List:

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