Alix sat back down. “Because I’m no good at relationships. You know that.”

“I don’t know that. There is no evidence to support that statement.”

“There’s plenty of evidence.” Alix picked up a parcel from under the tree and shook it gently. “Jigsaw?”

Christy took the parcel from her and put it back under the tree. “What evidence?”

“I made a mess of our friendship, for a start. The most important relationship in my little world, and I damaged it.”

“But that’s the point, you didn’t.”

“Christy—”

“No, listen to me. We can have misunderstandings, we can get angry, we can get things wrong, and our friendship is probably going to keep changing, but the one thing that is never going to change is how much we care about each other. That’s the glue.”

“I hurt you.”

“And I hurt you right back. And it’s horrid, and we both feel terrible, but we’re going to move past that. And maybe we understand each other a little better because of it. The most important thing is that we’re still here and still talking.” She wished her mother had done that with Robyn. “You absolutely can sustain a relationship, so that’s not a valid excuse not to pursue this thing with Zac. You’ve lost that excuse.”

Alix frowned, as if that thought hadn’t occurred to her. Then she shrugged. “There is no thing with Zac. You put us in the same cabin. We had some between-the-sheets action. We’re both single, consenting adults, so why not?”

Christy wondered how you could love someone but still want to wring their neck. “Just...give it a chance, Alix. Promise me you’ll give it a chance.”

“Maybe. So, are we good? You and I?”

Christy felt the warmth spread from her toes to her heart. “Why? You worried Santa won’t come if you’re not good?”

Alix laughed. “Santa always comes. I hang my stocking up, and next morning it’s filled.”

Christy thought about her mother and felt a pang. “That’s what he does. Did you write him a letter?”

“No. I expect him to be a mind reader like he has been every other year.”

“Maybe he will deliver Zac.”

Alix picked up another parcel and shook it. “It rattles. Did it rattle before I shook it? Maybe I’m the one that made it rattle.”

“You’re like a toddler.” Christy took it from her and put it back carefully. She’d let it lie for now, she decided. Let her friend see for herself that she hadn’t damaged anything. That she couldn’t use that as an excuse to run from yet another relationship. She’d give it time to sink in. “You shaking presents is a tradition. And talking of tradition, Robyn and Erik have invited us all to the lodge for Christmas Eve. Apparently, that’s their big celebration. Erik’s family will be there, too. Robyn is making a big Christmas buffet. Holly and I are going to help her with some cooking later. What are you doing for the rest of the day?”