Wicked Whoopie Pies by Addison Moore (english novels to improve english TXT) 📕

onto her plate. “Dash and I are rebelling against the profiteering of high school dances. We hit the thrift shop last week and each bought some pretty cool rags to wear. I’d let you see it now, but I think I’ll wait until prom night and surprise you.”

Lemon looks slightly crestfallen. I know she’s anxious to hit all the milestones with Evie.

She shrugs. “Well, if you’re still in need of chaperones, sign me up. I’d love to get dressed to the nines and dance the night away.”

“And escape Little Yippy,” Carlotta quips, but Lemon chooses to ignore her as she waits for Evie to reply.

Evie and Charlie exchange a look.

“Uh”—Evie sighs—“whatever. It’s not like I can keep anything from you guys, it’s like I live with a Special Forces unit. I’ve already asked Charlie to chaperone and she said yes, so we’re all booked up, but thanks for asking.” She grabs another slice of pizza and takes a gargantuan bite.

“You asked Charlie?” Lemon’s brows hike.

The look of indifference drops from Evie’s face because she knows her jig is up.

“All right, fine,” Evie spews. “I asked Charlie because she looks like you, Mom. That way my teachers are happy because they think you’re there. And you’re happy because I’ve got my shiny new aunt looking after me—and I’m happy because my shiny new aunt doesn’t care one bit what I’m doing with whom.” Her phone chirps. “Gotta run.” She jumps from the table. “Dash and I have some serious eye shadow palettes to discuss.”

“I’d love to be at the school gym on prom night,” Lemon calls after her.

“You do that, Mom,” she shouts back. “I’ll be at the Lux Plaza Hotel in Fallbrook on prom night! That’s the hotel Grandma Eliza owns, isn’t that cool?”

True as gospel. I grunt at the thought. My mother is a hotel heiress with an impressive portfolio. Lemon, Noah, and I just visited the Lux Plaza Hotel last March for my high school reunion. Of course, a corpse showed up that night. I’m betting Evie fares better. But if Conner decides he’s going to put the moves on her, he just might play the part of the corpse in question.

“Well then”—Charlie smiles over at Lemon—“I’ll be sure to give you the full intel from Fallbrook. Don’t worry, Lottie. I’ll watch your little Evie as if she were my own.”

“I appreciate it,” Lemon says as Lyla Nell begins to fuss in her arms. “I’d better go change this peanut.” She takes off and Charlie runs her tongue over her lips as she looks my way.

I have a feeling Evie isn’t the only thing she’d like to take care of as if it were her own.

That gut churning feeling comes back.

Something is definitely afoot, something dark is on the horizon, I can feel it.

And I doubt Charlie is the only obstacle trying to get in my way. I have no problem staying faithful to Lemon. Charlie will have to lick her lips elsewhere. She’s not getting any extra attention from me. But I have a feeling this is bigger than her.

Nope. The other shoe is about to drop.

It’s just a matter of when and where.

I already know who it’ll land on.

Me.

Noah

A year ago if anyone told me that I’d have fallen madly in love with yet another girl, I wouldn’t have believed it. And yet, I’ve fallen just as madly and deeply for Lyla Nell as I have her mother.

I help Lottie give Lyla Nell a quick bath and change her into her PJ’s, and not one second passes after I button her up than she’s snoozing right there on the changing table. I give Lyla Nell a kiss to the nose before laying her into the bassinet next to Lottie’s side of the bed, then a kiss to Lottie’s nose to match.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” I say as we head into living room.

Carlotta comes at me. “Where are you going, Foxy? Aren’t you headed in the wrong direction? The nursery is that way. Lot’s got your favorite superhero sheets on the bed and everything.” It’s true, Lottie put a bed in the nursery for me. And Evie thought it would be hysterical if the sheets had little cartoon dogs printed all over them—heck, I even thought it was funny. But since it’s easier for Lottie to nurse Lyla Nell in her own bed, there’s no point in me being in the nursery.

“Not tonight.” I nod back at Lottie. “But you just say when and I’ll take a shift.”

Carlotta elbows Lottie, and Lottie mumbles something to her through the side of her mouth.

I nod to Everett and he walks me out. “Watch out for you know who.” He hitches his head back into the house and I catch a glimpse of Lottie’s look-alike sister arguing with Carlotta. “She’s trouble.”

“I didn’t need a road map for that one,” I say. “Thanks for the heads-up.”

I jog across the street, and no sooner do I land at my doorstep than Trouble herself pops up beside me.

“Geez.” I inch back, just trying to escape her sheer proximity. “What are you doing here?” I ask as I unlock the door and she speeds right on in.

Toby, my golden retriever, barks and jumps at the sight of her.

“So this is where the magic happens?”

I find her twirling in my living room as I snap on the lights.

“What magic?” I ask as I give Toby a few quick pats before scooping up a heap of kibble for him into his bowl.

Charlie dips her chin and looks over at me from under her lashes. Her Mangias T-shirt is a touch too tight, her hips are swinging in my direction, and she’s looking far too much like Lottie for my liking right now.

“Come on, Noah.” Her teeth graze over her lower lip. “You and I both know it’s over for you and my sister. And me?” Her shoulders bounce as she feigns a look of innocence. “Face it, I’m the next best thing.”

“No, no, no.”