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Maybe he just liked looking at me across the room. Maybe I’d pushed this whole thing too far.

Christmas miracles weren’t real. I was so tired of waiting. And so tired of hurting. And I was just so...tired.

“What the hell is wrong with you?”

I looked up to see Jacob towering over me. A lot of things, I think. But I didn’t know which thing he was referring to. “What?”

“That’s the fourth redhead that’s showed up and I feel like I’m being tailed.”

“Oh. Right. Sorry.” I tried to focus on him instead of my swirling thoughts. But my chest hurt. And I wanted to be anywhere but here. “You didn’t like any of them?” I’d really hoped he would.

“Soph.”

“We took a lot of time picking the best redheads in the city for you.”

“I don’t want to date some random redhead. I want...” His voice trailed off.

He didn’t need to finish his sentence. I knew what he’d been about to say.

“Yeah, right,” I said. “I’m sorry. I was just trying to help.”

“Well, I didn’t ask for your help,” he snapped.

“I’m sorry,” I said. But I wasn’t sure he heard me over the music. I really had just been trying to help. But what the hell did I know about love?

Nothing.

I knew freaking nothing.

I’d only ever loved one person and he didn’t love me back. “I’ll message Girl #5 and tell her not to come. Sorry about tonight.” God, this whole night was a disaster. “I’m just gonna go.” I stepped around Jacob to go to our secret lair. I just wanted to crawl into Scarlett’s bed and forget tonight had ever happened.

“Hey.” Jacob grabbed my wrist.

I shook my arm out of his grip and kept walking.

But he stepped in front of me, blocking my path. “What do you mean you’re going to go? This is your party.”

It didn’t feel like it. “I’m really sorry that I ruined your night.” I felt my bottom lip start to tremble.

Jacob cursed under his breath. “Soph, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have snapped at you...”

“It’s fine. Go have fun.” I turned around and walked in the other direction. I just wanted to get out of here. But it was so crowded. I opened the first door I came to and walked into the dark jungle room. I could hear moaning from behind a bush.

Yeah, this was pretty much a sex dungeon.

I stepped backward and ran straight into someone.

“Soph?” Jacob whispered. “Is that you?”

I turned around. I couldn’t really see him, but I knew it was him. “Jacob, I’m fine. Go back to the party.”

He put his hands on the sides of my face. Or...he tried to. They landed on my neck and slowly slid up, cupping my jaw. “I’m sorry.”

“I deserved it.”

“You didn’t deserve it. I’m just...”

“I know.” I did. He was heartbroken. “Me too.”