Page 75 of Hungry As Her Python

But I always thought Evie had the big-brain energy in this trio.

“When it comes to a lot of things, actually,” she said, as if she hadn’t just dropped that truth bomb into my lap.

“Seriously, Bella,” Donny cut in, leaning over the counter with a cat-that-ate-the-canary grin. “I thought you and Conrad had hooked up months ago.”

“Well, funny story,” I hedged, avoiding their eyes as heat climbed up my neck. “We kinda did hook up right away.”

“AHHHH! YOU ARE SUCH A SLUT!” Evie squealed with delight.

“Way to go, girl!” Donny crowed.

And then they pounced.

Two giggling, squealing, cupcake-scented tornadoes of affection.

I twisted away from their tickling fingers, narrowly dodged the buttercream blob Donny tried to swipe across my nose, and the three of us ended up in a pile on the floor, breathless from laughter.

“Oh my Goddess, I need to go on a diet,” Evie wheezed.

“About that,” Donny started, but I pinched her arm.

Not our secret to tell—especially not when it most definitely involved a certain Wolf Shifter she was mated to.

“Oh my Goddess, I’ve been such a jerk about this, haven’t I?”

“I don’t know about being a jerk, Bells, but you sure are giving Conrad a run for his money,” Evie said.

“Hey, he’s a Shifter. They have wonderful stamina. Now how about we tackle this mess? I’ve got heads waiting for me at the salon,” Donny said.

With a bit of wandless magic and a flick of all our wrists, we cleaned up the chaos.

Which, frankly, made me feel a little guilty for how long I’d been doing every post-baking cleanup solo.

“So, you really hooked up like way back when,” Donny prompted, wiggling her fingers for more gossip.

“Yes, we hooked up,” I admitted, then sighed. “But you know what happened last time I had a man—I just don’t want a repeat.”

“You are NOT talking about that turd, Jameson Vorhees, are you?” Evie’s eyes narrowed like she was about to hex someone into the next county.

“Actually—”

“Bella!” they chorused, scandalized.

“Okay, Maribella Strega, I take that back about you being smart,” Evie declared, swatting my butt.

“Hey! I’m like the Scarecrow after he gets his brain! You can’t just take it back now,” I protested.

“Fine,” Evie huffed. “But you should know—Jameson Vorhees was a complete two-timing creep, and he did not deserve you.”

“He said he left because I wouldn’t change for him,” I mumbled.

“What? That is a complete lie!” Donny’s nose wrinkled. “Should we tell her?”

“Tell me what?”

“Bella, Jameson Vorhees came on to both of us countless times while you were dating him,” Evie said flatly. “Finally, he got the hint we were never going to betray you.”

I froze.