The Gift Rarely Given - Illustrated Version

<p><strong style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)><em>Christmas has never been this hot... or eventful. </em></strong></p><p></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Falling asleep on a bench in the marina's parking lot on Amelia Island was not in my plans for last night. Neither is being woken up by Alex Haddock former QB for the Jacksonville Rhinos and a grumpy media nightmare. </span></p><p></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>I don't even know who he is. But one thing leads to another and we end up in the back of his truck for a steamy night. It's supposed to be just that one time but now he's here asking me Livie Sanz curvy hot mess express and everyone's best friend to be his fake girlfriend so the media thinks he's settling down. </span></p><p></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>I agree because-bonus!-it also gets my mom off my back about dying alone. </span></p><p></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>We have twelve days before Christmas to prove to the world he's reformed and to prove to my mom that I am capable of picking my own partner. Even if he looks like he could murder someone with his stare.</span></p><p></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(0 0 0 0); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>The problem is that what started as all fun and games quickly changes into blurred lines and what-ifs. And now I'm left wondering if there's any way we can both let our guard down enough to admit there might be more here than our arrangement.</span></p><p></p>