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After they finished, everyone settled in the living room. Claire curled up beside Noah, and he wrapped an arm around her.

Ainsley was about to get between them again, but she caught Emily’s eye. Emily was firmly shaking her head. Ainsley sat on Claire’s other side instead and leaned against her.

After the movie, Ainsley stood up, rubbing her eyes. She didn’t go to Noah. She walked straight to Claire. “Will you tuck me in?”

Everyone paused. Claire looked at Noah like, Is that okay?

Noah smiled. “Looks like you’ve been chosen.”

Claire took Ainsley’s hand and walked across the yard to Emily’s house. She put her in bed, read her a short book, and fixed her blanket.

Ainsley reached up and hugged her. “How long are you staying?”

“We’re leaving Saturday.”

“Are you coming back for Christmas?”

Claire smiled. “Yes.”

She hoped she would come back every Christmas. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d looked forward to a holiday this much.

She stood there for a second, smiling, before walking back across the yard toward Noah’s parents’ house.

The windows glowed warmly against the cold November evening.

Inside she could already hear everyone laughing. Noah opened the door before she even reached it. “Everything okay?”

She nodded. “Yeah.”

“Goodnight, everyone,” Noah called out. “Goodnight,” Claire echoed as she followed Noah down the hall.

Noah closed the door behind them. Claire looked at his bed. “Well.”

They had stayed in his room together before when they were fake dating.

But now they were actually dating.

Noah laughed, pointing to the bed he had made in the corner. “Don’t panic, I’m still sleeping on the floor.”

“You know we’re actually together now.”

“I know. That doesn’t change this.”

Claire swallowed. “You don’t have to sleep on the floor.”

“I want to. We don’t sleep in the same bed at home, and I’m not starting just because we’re away.”

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“Protecting us.”

“Of course. The floor isn’t that bad.”

She laughed. It was definitely that bad.

She climbed into bed and turned off the light. Noah lay down on the floor.