Chapter 22
WALKER
Lacey seemed distracted when she got into the shower, but I blamed it on our late night and the possible lingering hangover from the wine.
But I can’t ignore the way she’s clutching her coffee mug in her hands and looking out the window.
The storm stopped after we got home, and now the sun is dancing over the snowbanks, making the whole town sparkle.
It should be peaceful, but I can imagine the weight on her shoulders as she sits at the island.
Is she worried about what will happen when she goes back to Chicago?
Is there any way I can convince her not to go?
Selfishly, I’ve been racking my brain all morning thinking of the latter. I don’t want her to leave, and I sure as hell don’t want her to bring some new guy to Starlight Bay the next time she comes home.
The thought is like a bucket of ice water on my mood. How did a holiday fling become all-consuming?
“Are you all right?” Lacey asks, her voice soft as she looks at me from across the island. “You’re frowning.”
“I was going to ask you the same thing,” I reply, not ready to give her my answer.
“Someone I used to work with sent me information for a new job with a different company. I read over it briefly and it looks amazing. I’m flattered he thought of me.”
Her tone is even and lacks the kind of enthusiasm that I’d expect considering the reason she needed to get out of Chicago.
Doesn’t stop my heart from sinking though.
You knew this would happen.
And honestly, it’s ridiculous the way this situation with Lacey has me so tied up in knots.
As she sits in my kitchen, all I can think about is how many more nights hanging out with Sawyer and Hallie I want, how many snowmen I want to build, and how many times I want to growl at her because she thinks the tree still needs to go a little to the left.
“That sounds like a great opportunity,” I hear myself say, thankful my tone is reassuring rather than pouty.
“It is.”
“Let me make you breakfast and then you can take some time to do whatever it is they need you to do.” I hitch my thumb toward the stairs. “I should probably catch up on some work too.”
“Because Sawyer was carrying the load while you got your load off?” she goads, a sparkle returning to her eyes.
“Exactly like that.”
SAWYER: Hallie wants to know what she can do to sabotage Lacey from going back to Chicago
SAWYER: She has a lot of ideas and honestly, some are pretty creative
WALKER: I fucking wish
WALKER: Someone reached out with an unofficial job offer but it sounds like everything is a formality
SAWYER: Hence sabotage
WALKER: I just want her to be happy
My phone buzzes in my hand as a new group chat pops up.
SAWYER: You owe me big time for this
WALKER: What are you talking about?
MURPHY: Fucking FINALLY!
MURPHY: We’re all gonna be best friends now!
SAWYER: Don’t make me regret this
MURPHY: That attitude will keep you in the #2 position
SAWYER: Can we focus please?
MURPHY: You’re such a buzzkill
SAWYER: And you’re a frat boy—it’s called balance
WALKER: What in the hell is happening right now?
MURPHY: Sawyer and I are teaming up to help you pull your head out of your ass
WALKER: About what?
Rubbing the spot between my eyes, I pray for patience because out of everything strange that’s happened this week, Murphy and Sawyer voluntarily being in a group message is definitely at the top.
MURPHY: You being in love with my sister and asking her to stay with you instead of coming back to Chicago
SAWYER: Your subtlety is unmatched
MURPHY: (gif of guy taking a bow)
WALKER: First of all…
I want to 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
Guess those emails are going to have to wait.