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A pink blush climbs from her chest to her neck and her face relaxes, even if it’s not quite a smile.
“Thanks. But what happens when we’re done filming?” She gazes up at me, her steel-blue eyes wide with worry.
“I don’t know, but we’ll figure it out. Okay?” I squeeze her hands and she gives me a sad smile.
Not very reassuring.
“Okay.” She climbs out of the boat, and I shove off, moving back out to deeper water.
She waves from the dock, her dark hair blowing in the ocean breeze. “Bye, Maddox.”
A sharp pang hits me in the chest, my mind flashing forward to the end of July, Ivy climbing the stairs to the plane and leaving Candy Cane Key.
I don’t want to be without her.
My heart aches just thinking about waking up in an empty bed, no Ivy by my side.
It’s a wild thought, after only a few weeks together.
But I want to marry Ivy Winters.
11
IVY
The gator delayput us back an extra day—and I don’t mind at all.
Another delay means I get to spend more time with Maddox.
Sweet, funny, handsome Maddox. Everyone loves him, and it’s no wonder. He’s amazing, a real catch. Every single extra on the set fawns over him, giggling and flirting. My gut tenses at every smile, every flash of skin aimed in his direction.
But Maddox doesn’t even seem to notice. His ocean-blue eyes follow my every move and he makes me feel like I’m the sun in his solar system, his entire world revolving around me.
“Oh my god, Ivy. You’re in love with him!” Arielle squeals down the line after I describe the scene from yesterday, how the gator hissed at the elf and Maddox swooped in and singlehandedly saved everyone.
“No, I’m not.” I stare up at the smooth, white ceiling, my voice weak as I futilely protest.
“Girl—you are. Every time you talk about him, you’re giddy. I can practically see you blushing and smiling right now.”
“Fine. I really, really like him.Maybelove him. But it’s an impossible situation, Ari. He lives here in Florida, and I’ll be all the way out in L.A. How’s that going to work?” I throw my arm to the side, frustrated with the situation.
Of course I’d fall for a local. On the opposite side of the United States, no less.
“So? Maybe he wants to move to California. We have better weather.”
“And higher taxes. Plus, he and his twin brother run their own business. It’s not like he can just pick up and move.”
Ari huffs out a breath. “Hmm. That’s a tough one. Think you can talk his brother into moving too?”
I sigh. “Definitely not. He’s nothing like Maddox. You’d never even know they’re twins. Levi’s a diehard—probably won’t even visit L.A., let alone move there.”
“You’re in a real predicament. But I’m sure it’ll work out. True love always prevails.”
“You’ve been watching too many Christmas Network movies, Ari. Look how me and Luca turned out.”
“Yeah, but that wasn’t true love. No offense, but Luca’s an opportunistic prick. Speaking of—have you seen any of the latest reports?”
“No. What’s happening?” I hesitate, not sure I actually want to know.
