Page 9 of Once Upon A Christmas Song

“No,” she insisted. “Let’s think back, shall we?”

“Let’s not,” I muttered. It had not, in fact, been one of my finer moments.

“You folded like a house of cards in a barely there breeze.”

“Yes, but your mother is so nice, and she really likes me.”

“It should be more important that I like you.”

I wasn’t so sure about that. “Should it? I mean, she feeds me all the time, and makes sure I’m invited over for all the holidays.”

“Everyone wants you for the holidays,” Simone said sulkily.

“Yes, but your mother always makes me my special apple-crumble pie.”

She rolled her eyes. “Oh, I know.”

“And her love language is service, making things, but we both know what she really wants more than anything.”

“I refuse to have this conversation with you again.”

“This is the year, my friend.”

“What?”

“Don’t what me. You and I both know that Michael keeps trying to take you away on romantic vacations to pop the question, and you keep blaming me for not being able to go.”

“That’s not completely true.”

“You can’t keep telling him that shit. I refuse to be the cockblock on his happy life,” I apprised her. “He’s gonna start to hate me.”

“No,” she said with a heavy sigh. “I already told him you’d let me go anywhere, anytime with him.”

“You did? When was this?”

“On Monday.”

“No wonder he was so nice to me on the phone yesterday.”

“Uh. Whatever.”

“You should just tell him that a grand gesture is not necessary,” I suggested. “You love him, just tell him yeah, I’ll marry you.”

She crossed her arms, saying nothing.

“What’s the issue?”

“What if I mess it up?”

“Why would you do that?”

“I have no idea, but I’ve messed up things in the past.”

“With guys who weren’t right for you.”

“How do you know that? Maybe they were, but I⁠—”

“They weren’t right. They didn’t get you or the fact that you’re funny.”