Snowflake Bay by Donna Kauffman

already failed mission. Alex laughed along. Hannah did not.
    Hannah made a beckoning gesture with her fingers. “Come on, hit me with it. What’s wrong with the wedding ideas I told you about? Too stiff? Formal? Because I don’t think elegance and formal have to be the same thing. In fact, I think—”
    â€œI think you should wait to get married,” Fiona blurted out in a rush. Her statement was met by stunned silence on the part of both the soon-to-be-bride and the newlywed.
    Hannah looked hurt. “You love Calder. Everyone does. Why would you—?”
    â€œNot because of Calder, you boob.”
    â€œDon’t go flaunting your boobs at me,” she shot back, trying for the same teasing diversion Fiona had tried a moment ago.
    â€œI can’t help it if the boob fairy liked me best,” Fiona said, giving the automatic retort, but her expression grew serious and she shifted closer on the bed, taking Hannah’s hand. “Of course I love Calder. I’m thrilled you’re getting married. You should run to the nearest justice of the peace and tie the knot right now before he finds out what a tight-ass you can be about, oh, so many things .”
    Hannah stuck her tongue out.
    â€œHow very lawyerly of you,” Fiona said mildly. “Do you do that when opposing counsel says something you don’t like?”
    Alex’s gaze followed them like a ping-pong match. “You know, just when I think I’m used to it,” she said. “I mean, with Kerry I always know, because, well, with Kerry, when isn’t she giving you a hard time? But with you two, it—I never know. You sound so serious, but you’re kidding, right? This is just sister speak.”
    Hannah and Fiona both looked at Alex, and then they both busted out laughing. “Seriously?” Fiona said. “Of course we are. It’s what we do. I think of it as a finely honed childhood survival skill.”
    â€œSpeak for yourself, Fireplug,” Hannah said, grabbing the nearest pillow and flinging it at Fiona’s head.
    Fiona deflected it, thankful for the momentary block, because the sting of that recently resurrected nickname had surely been reflected in her expression. “You don’t get to call me that,” she said as she batted the pillow and watched it bounce onto the floor. “And, if I have anything to say about it, neither will Ben Campbell.”
    Alex laughed, but Hannah’s expression shifted to a more contemplative smile as she leaned down, grabbed the pillow back, and hugged it in her lap. She gave her sister a considering look.
    Now it was Fiona’s turn to say, “What? It was one thing when we were kids, but I don’t have to put up with it now.”
    Hannah laughed, then faltered. “You’re serious.”
    â€œDamn straight I am.”
    â€œIt was a silly nickname, Fi. We were kids. You know he didn’t mean it in a bad way.” She immediately raised her hands. “I meant now, today, down in the kitchen. I know he could be an idiot back then. Him and Logan both. They were teenage boys. They were genetically wired to be jerks. But now it’s just . . .” She trailed off, lifted a shoulder. “I don’t know. Like a cute childhood throwback. I thought it was kind of sweet.”
    â€œSays the woman who Ben looked at like the second coming of PlayStation 3 and Christmas morning all rolled into one, with girl parts thrown in as a bonus. You’ll have to pardon me if our shared childhood remembrances differ somewhat when it comes to the adorable qualities, or lack thereof, of Ben Campbell.”
    Hannah looked sincerely shocked and perhaps Fi had been the teensiest bit too fierce in her rebuttal, but dammit, it was the truth, after all.
    â€œHe’s the nicest guy on the planet,” Hannah said, as if it were simply a fact. “Even at his jerkiest as a kid, he had a heart the size of the moon, you