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

something about her ruining him.” She takes a breath. “I asked her about it during our next session and she clearly said she didn’t want to go there. It’s a true mystery.”

Binky coos, “I love me a good mystery, Lottie. I used to spend hours investigating odd noise—which usually led straight to odd men of my kind. Boy, did we ever have fun getting as odd as we could be. I was readily accepted in all the local dens. The boys just loved me. That’s another thing Charlie and I have in common.”

A waitress plops a plate down in front of Olive, and my mouth begins to water at the delectable smoked turkey leg and the heap of mashed potatoes.

“Olive, are you eating dinner at the bar? I’m sorry. I would have asked you to join us. I didn’t realize you were here alone.”

She laughs it off. “Actually”—she sobers up and she looks grieved for a moment—“I was supposed to be meeting my brother here. It’s his birthday and this is his favorite restaurant. But unfortunately, he couldn’t make it out tonight, so I told him I’d celebrate without him.”

“Good for you,” I say. “No reason to miss out on a good meal. But you’re still welcome to join us if you like.”

“No, I’m fine. I’ve got some work I need to go over.” She holds up her phone. “You enjoy your father-in-law’s birthday party. It was a good day to have a birthday. Apparently, some of the best men were born on this day.”

“Right.” I give a loose smile. I wouldn’t go as far as calling Wiley the best, nor is he my father-in-law, but I suppose he was at one point since I was briefly married to Noah once—an accident more or less that was quickly dissolved by Everett.

“And I’m off to the house to play with your cats, Lottie.” Binky stretches out as she floats to the ceiling. “You’ll never believe what they’ve been up to.” Her voice grows faint as she disappears in a puff of lavender fog.

I wish Olive a good night and bump into my mother on the dance floor on my way back.

“Oh, Lottie, your food is getting cold.” She makes a face before pulling me in. “Just between you and me”—she glances at the table—“I was part of the church auxiliary last Christmas and Terri Norris gave everyone at the staff holiday party a hide-a-key rock. You know the kind that you set out in your planter in the event you get locked out of your home?” She pulls me in another notch. “She said that it’s saved her life more than once.”

My mouth falls open as I read between the lines. “Mother, thank you. I really appreciate that.”

Who knew my mother of all people would help me propagate a potential felony?

“Hey”—I inch in closer as Wiley gyrates his limbs in all sorts of unflattering ways to the cheery country tune crooning overhead—“you wouldn’t happen to know where she lived, do you?”

Her lips press tightly. “She lives right down the street from Lainey on Maple Leaf Drive. She always thought her Christmas decorations were better than everyone else’s because she had them professionally arranged. She was fiercely competitive. Blue house on the corner with lots of pots on the porch. She was meticulous about her gardening, too.”

“Good to know. And thank you,” I mouth as I take off for the table, only to find the food obliterated and half the seats abandoned.

Carlotta moans hard, and Mayor Nash moans twice as hard as they hold their bellies.

“Make it stop, Lot Lot,” Carlotta groans as she holds a hand up as if begging for mercy.

Noah and Everett are gone and so is Cormack. The only other person at the table is Charlie who plucks down an oversized beef rib, or what’s left of it, onto her plate already piled high with a dozen other bones.

“Now that was a meal.” She wipes her lips as she looks up at me. “What are you staring at? Haven’t you ever seen a girl put away some ribs before?”

“Sure I have, and it’s usually me. Nice to see we have that in common. Where are Noah and Everett? And do I want to know where your new bestie Cormack is?”

She averts her eyes. “Mackie is on the dance floor with some knuckle-dragger who has billions. An old friend—emphasis on old. And as for your men—the battle of the sausage continues. They’re playing video games. Bets were made. I think a coveted spot in your bed is in the balance.” She gives a quick wink and I don’t think for a minute she’s serious.

I crane my neck, and sure enough, I spot the two of them side-by-side, each working their own arcade machine. Both Noah and Everett look so intense you’d think national security were in the bounds. I’m not surprised. Their competitiveness against one another borders on toxic.

I look back at Carlotta. “I need to get going. I just got some good intel and I need to act on it tonight.”

“I’m going with you.” Charlie is quick to jump to her feet.

“Come on, Harry.” Carlotta pulls Mayor Nash to his feet as well. “We’d better tag along.”

The four of us head over to the arcade, and no matter how hard I try to convince Noah and Everett it’s time to go home, they’re immovable from those machines. They mumble something about scores to beat and records to maintain. There’s no telling how long this foray into insanity will take. This is clearly a case of them trying to prove whose sausage is bigger.

“Never mind,” I tell them. “I’ll hitch a ride back with Mayor Nash.”

“Sounds good, Lot,” Noah grunts as he moves that controller around at lightning speeds.

“Don’t wait up, Lemon,” Everett growls. “I’ll give you a kiss goodnight when I get in.”

Noah gives a dark chuckle. “Don’t be too surprised if I’m the one giving you that kiss, Lot.”

A choking sound comes from me, because by the