Page 18 of Getting Wrapped Up

“Kate.”

Ah, her friend from California. “Everything okay with her?” He liked Kate. She was funny and down to earth. He also loved listening to her talk to congressmen about environmental impact and climate change. He always learned something and he loved to watch the politicians underestimate her because she was a beautiful blonde. She was articulate and could put the politicians in their place almost as fast as Joe’s boss, Lauren. And Kate was sweeter about it.

“Yeah, she and Tucker found each other and are having agreattime.” Phoebe emphasized great while she held her phone up for Joe to see.

“Tucker is wonderful. Having a GREAT time.”

“I got all caps from Levi too,” he said with a chuckle.

“Met Hailey. I OWE YOU.”

He turned his phone to show Phoebe.

Phoebe read his screen and frowned. “Hailey who?”

“Hailey Conner.”

Phoebe’s gaze flew to his. “My Hailey Conner?”

“The only Hailey Conner either of us knows.”

“Levi and Hailey met up somewhere?”

“Yes.” Joe frowned at her. “At the Come Again.”

“The Come Again in Sapphire Falls?”

Joe put his phone down. “What are you talking about? You knew this.”

“No, I didn’t.”

Then something occurred to Joe. “Kate is out with Tucker?”

“Yes.”

“Tucker Bennett?”

“Yes. In Sapphire Falls at the Come Again.”

“Did I know about that?”

“Yes.” Then Phoebe bit her bottom lip and shook her head. “I don’t know. Did you?”

“I don’t think so.”

They’d been so crazy getting Kaelyn packed and over to grandma’s house and then packing themselves and getting to the airport that it was possible that they thought they’d mentioned these things and hadn’t actually gotten around to it.

“So Kate and Tucker?” Joe asked.

Phoebe nodded. “Levi and Hailey?”

“Yeah. Levi’s in town for Christmas. Hailey agreed to be his date for the formal.”

“Your idea?”

Joe nodded. “Levi’s decided to try some new things—like not smashing his skull in or ending up dead.”

“Good things to try,” Phoebe said dryly. She loved Joe’s brother, and his accident had shaken her. For a long time, they’d both seen Levi going down a bad path fast. They hoped the accident would be a wakeup call.

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