Page 115 of Bragg's Christmas

Harmony pats her shoulder. “You’re not a bitch. A big mouth maybe, but not a bitch.”

“I stand corrected. I’m a big mouth bitch.”

I’m not following the conversation. I’m stuck on Damon walking into my house, seeing Murray attack me, and thinking I’m cheating.

“He never believed me,” I whisper.

“Never believed what?” Soleil asks.

“He never believed I’m not the slut the entire town thinks I am. He doesn’t think I’m trying to be a better person. He never loved me the way I love him. I’m so stupid.”

“No. No. No. You aren’t stupid. Don’t say you’re stupid,” Soleil pleas.

“Why not? I’m obviously an idiot thinking a man like Damon Bragg could ever love me, Love Hill, maneater of Winter Falls.”

“Crap. I need to apologize,” Moon mutters.

Soleil nods. “We all do.”

I wave away their apologies. I don’t need their apologies. “It’s fine. I was the town bitch. I made it seem as if I was sleeping with every man in town. It’s my own fault.”

“Enough!” Eden points at me. “Enough already. I’ve gotten to know you over the past month and I’m ashamed to admit I was wrong about you. You aren’t the man-eating whore everyone makes you out to be.”

Harmony nods in agreement. “Damon Bragg is an idiot for dumping you.”

“Let’s prank him,” Moon suggests.

Soleil wags her finger at Moon. “No! No pranking.”

“What kind of prank?” I ask. I’ve never done a prank in my life. Obviously, an oversight on my part.

“Now, you’ve done it,” Soleil mutters. “If Moon does a prank, Brody will think he has to better it.”

“But Moon isn’t doing the prank, I am. Moon is my prank sensei.”

As Moon and Soleil debate the pros and cons of beginning a prank war in Winter Falls, I glance around the room. I never thought I’d have a group of girlfriends to have my back, but here they are. They aren’t choosing Damon’s side because he’s their brother-in-law. They’re here for me.

I may have lost the family I thought I was building with the man I love and his daughter, but I think I gained a different family. A family of friends. A community in Winter Falls.

I will always love Damon and my heart will yearn for him for the rest of my life, but I won’t be alone.

Chapter 37

Locked doesn’t mean blocked. ~ Message from Moon on the Winter Falls Facebook page

Love Hill

Someone bangs on the door and I groan. There’s another bang and I cover my head with the blankets. It’s Christmas Day. There’s no reason for anyone to bang on my door. Not when I’ll be spending the day alone.

I thought this Christmas would be different. I thought I’d have a family this year. I thought wrong.

Instead, I’m going to hide in my bedroom and watch spy thrillers while eating the food leftover from the charcuterie board Moon brought over the other night. And hope my roof doesn’t collapse on me in the meantime.

I hear the window screech open and scream. “HELP!”

The covers are ripped off of me. “What are you screaming for?”

At the sound of Moon’s voice, I open my eyes. “What are you doing here?”

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