Page 20 of The Merriest Christmas

"Please don't say it," I said.

"—and I know you like being in control—"

"Dex, please."

"—but no one can control the weather," he finished."Not even you."

I sighed.

"It's okay."

"No, Dex, it's not," I said."Mom is going to be so sad."

"But you didn't even tell her."

"I know, but that's why I did it in the first place.I want her to be happy this Christmas."

"And she will be," he said.

"How do you know?" I asked.

"Well, besides that Hanover kid eating all your cookies—"

"If you laugh again, I will literally jump through the phone and strangle you," I warned.

"Really feeling the Christmas spirit there, sis."

"Ha ha."

"Honestly, I thought you'd had enough violence by now, considering how you almost killed Toby."

"She's got that O'Brien pitching arm," Chase yelled in the back.

I shook my head."You're the worst brothers ever."

"And yet, I'm still your favorite," Dex replied.

"I don't know.Finn's looking to take your spot."

He scoffed."Yeah, right."

"It could happen."

"You've had a hard day, so I'm going to let that slide."

"How big of you," I mumbled.

"Listen, arranging all this wasn't easy.I get that," Dex said. "And I know how much you hate Seaver."

"Yeah, I do."

"Has he been giving you a hard time?"

"A little," I said, though I'd been giving it back to him ten times over.

"Best friend or not, I'll kick his ass.You just give me the word, Emmy."

I laughed quietly."I'll keep that in mind."

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