Page 27 of Say Yule Stay

---

I wantto refute the part where I’m in love with my best friend’s sister, but I don’t think I can. Have I always been in love with her and just never realized it?

MURPHY: Do you think he finally sees it?

SAWYER: I hope so because the two of them at dinner were not just friends

WALKER: Was dinner a setup?

SAWYER: It was multipurposed

WALKER: Fucker

MURPHY: Cool cool cool

MURPHY: Hanging without me is lame but I’ll allow it because it made you realize you love my sister and want to marry her and have babies

WALKER: What is it with you and babies?

MURPHY: I’m going to kick ass as an uncle

SAWYER: We’re getting off track

MURPHY: Right. You need to convince her to stay in Starlight Bay

WALKER: What about you? You guys are codependent—what are you gonna do if she leaves?

MURPHY: I have a plan don’t you worry

SAWYER: There’s not a single time you’ve said that when I didn’t worry

MURPHY: You need to lighten up

MURPHY: And I have to get back to this meeting. Are we good? Maybe Hallie has some ideas that would help

SAWYER: Told you

WALKER: No…I’ll think of something

SAWYER: That’s the spirit

Guessthose emails are going to have to wait.

23

LACEY

Ring, ring.

Setting down my pen, I settle into my chair because my brother is calling, and there’s no use trying to multitask when he’s on the line.

“Hey.”

“Happy almost Christmas, baby sister!” he declares, loud enough I’m tempted to pull the phone away from my ear. My eyes glance at my planner andcrap!

It’s December twenty-third.

When did that happen?

I guess time flies when you’re getting laid.

---