AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’ll go with you.”
“I’m going to go to the bathroom before I go to the kitchen, and that’s definitely a one-person job.”
“OK,” she says cheerfully. So fucking cheerful. “I’ll see you at the table.”
I’d honestly be happier to see the electric chair at this point.
Chapter 18
On my way to the bathroom, I slip out the back door, pull out my phone, and summon the Smut Coven.
Penny: Smith’s girlfriend is Lindsay Lohan-ing me.
Jackie: You’ll need to be more specific.
Chelsey: Lindsay is thriving now, but I don’t think that’s what you mean.
Penny: She’s in my house, wearing my clothes, and basically saying we’re sisters.
Chelsey: She’s your twin?
Jackie: I’m going to need pictures.
I pass the firepit and sneak around to the living room, where everyone is still congregating because nobody in this house is in any hurry to get this night over with other than me. Using the cover of my mother’s azalea bush, I try to snag a few pictures, but it’s hard to get anything decent without a flash.
Penny: Can’t send a picture now without blowing my cover.
I’m about to try another angle when there’s a tap on the window. I whip my head up to find Martin staring at me. He mouths What are you doing? and in return I stick my tongue out because I don’t owe Martin Butler an explanation.
He mouths for me to stay there, which I do, but not because he told me to. My cardigan is stuck in the azalea bush, which means I’m stuck in the azalea bush.
The back door opens and shuts. Martin’s footsteps are quick and heavy on the patio as he sprints over to me, which seems a little unnecessary. I’m stuck in a bush, not a well.
“What are you doing?” he asks.
“Playing hide-and-seek,” I deadpan.
“Does your family usually play hide-and-seek before dinner?” Martin holds out his hand. “Because if they do, they’re not very good at it. You’re definitely winning the game right now.”
Something in his tone is off. It doesn’t have that usual cheeky air to it when we banter. It’s oddly serious. I choose to ignore it.
“Help me. My cardigan is stuck.”
Martin turns on the flashlight on his cell phone and shines it at me, temporarily blinding me. I feel his hand on my shoulder, and a moment later, I’m free from the dumb bush.
“Can we go inside now?” Martin asks. “I’m really hungry.”
“I can’t go in there with her,” I scoff. “Did you see what she’s wearing? And her hair? She looks more like my twin than Phoebe does right now.”
“You could be triplets,” he says with the same strange tone as before. Maybe it’s nerves? “Hey, do you think we’re going to have Twinkies tonight? I could really go for a fried one. Have you ever had a fried Twinkie?”
“You’re being weird.” I smack his arm playfully. “I’m not worried about food. I’m worried about the girl who thinks we’re part of the same family now.”
“Ooh, like a sister wife. Do you think she cooks?”
“You are not helping.”
“I just saved you from the bush.”
