Chapter 9 Lacey
LACEY
“What the hell happened?” Murphy asks, bringing me back to the present as I clear my throat and answer.
“I…didn’t get the promotion and there was some drama associated with it. I just needed some time away.”
Suddenly I’m thankful that Walker didn’t give Murphy my work saga either because I don’t have it in me to recount it—not while I’m still thinking about what he said in the kitchen.
“So, you just left,” he whines, “without telling me?”
“I didn’t think about it, Murph. I just left,” I tell him, looking outside at the falling snow. “I thought I’d get to Mom and Dad’s and then figure it out, but I ended up in Walker’s front yard instead.”
“Fine. I’m just mad I can’t get there till next week.”
“I know. And seriously, this isn’t how I planned on spending my time either.”
“I think there are worse ways than cuddling up with Walker.”
“What?” I whisper-hiss, turning and looking behind me as if Walker could possibly hear Murphy from the other room.
He can’t, but my heart beats wildly in my chest while my brother just chuckles. “Oh, come on, Lace. You two have always had something going on.”
“There has never—”
“Okay, so now’s your chance.”
“Why are you pushing this?” I ask when the real question is why am I fighting this?
Shouldn’t I want my brother’s blessing to do…something with his best friend?
“I’m not. I just think you guys would be great together, that’s all.” Murphy’s voice is gentle, and I feel a twinge of guilt for overreacting.
“I still live in Chicago and he lives here. He made the choice to leave, and I don’t want to come back here. I mean, we moved for a reason, right?”
My brother doesn’t respond right away, and I have to pull the phone away from my ear to make sure I didn’t drop the call.
“We moved because we wanted to see things beyond Starlight Bay, and we have. There’s no shame in missing where you started, Lace.
Going back home doesn’t mean you failed, just that you’re ready for a new adventure. ”
“And you’re fine with that? Being out there all by yourself?” I snap, defensiveness in my tone.
Instead of backtracking or apologizing, he laughs.
Hard.
“I can see you’re completely in denial, so we’ll talk about this later,” Murphy finally says once he’s regained his composure. “Use a condom, and tell Walker I said hi.”
“What—”
I don’t get the chance to say anything else because the line goes dead and I’m left standing there in shock.
I have no idea how I’m supposed to unpack all that, but one thing is clear. I’m definitely going to need a drink.