Page 61 of Poison Apple Crisp
Carlotta huffs, “Sounds like she was madder than a wet hen.”
I shoot her a look, but it’s no use. I can no sooner control Carlotta from spouting off than I can my stomach from trying to discharge all of its contents.
Martin laughs. “I couldn’t have said it better myself.”
Carlotta elbows him in the ribs. “So are you getting the band back together and making some new music with Cokie?”
Ginger howls out a laugh. “I was just thinking of asking that myself.”
He gives the back of his head a scratch. “I’m not so sure. But I guess never say never, right? She invited me to the fundraiser this Friday night. I think I’ll show up and see where it goes.” He nods our way. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’d better check on the guests.”
He takes off, and dinner wraps up before we know it. Our train ride comes to a merciful conclusion, and soon we’re all exiting the horror express.
Suze all but snarls my way as we say goodnight, prompting Noah to apologize profusely for her.
Eliza offers me a warm embrace and whispers into my ear, “Don’t mind her. She was burned by Wiley, and she’s been making others pay for it ever since. Sometimes you have to forgive and move on. It’s what I chose to do, and I do believe it’s the healthier option. Don’t let her ruin your moment.” She pulls back and looks to Everett and me. “Enjoy this time, both of you. Heck, allthreeof you.” She pulls Noah into our midst. “Having a baby is one of the most magical things this life can offer. Don’t let anyone rain on your parade. Absorb everything this happy time in your lives is trying to give you. It won’t last forever. Soon your baby will go off to have babies of their own.” She sniffs back tears as she pulls the three of us into a strong hug.
We head back to Honey Hollow, and I ponder the things that Eliza said—and the things that Martin said, too.
“Well, Lemon?” Everett asks as we park in his driveway and he helps me out of the car. “What’s it going to be? My place or yours?”
“Yours,” I say and Evie grunts.
“I’m wearing earphones and sleeping with three pillows over my head. Goodnight.” She looks to Carlotta. “Don’t forget what we talked about. The first game is coming up, and I’ll need those uniforms.”
“What uniforms?” I ask, and Carlotta shoots Evie a look with a threat embedded in it.
“What’s that?” Carlotta cups her ear to the street. “I think that’s Harry. He said he’d be over in a blink. I’d better go put on my uniform.” She winks to Evie. “Night, all. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do, Lot.”
I shake my head as both she and Evie scramble off.
Everett and I make our way inside, and I head straight for his bedroom, while he heads to the kitchen to get us some water and snacks. I’ve basically conditioned him to feed me before bedtime. I can’t help it. My desire to eat is just as strong as it is to do other far more carnal things these days. I blame this surge of hormones on both.
Everett comes into the room, and I pat the spot on the bed next to me. He lands a couple of water bottles on the nightstand and a box of my sweet treats I brought over before we left.
“Hey”—his lips curl—“I found something you left here, lying in front of the laundry room, and I like it.” He dives next to me and dangles a smidge of peach fabric in front of me. “Do you want to put them on so I can pull them off?”
“What’s that?” I take it from him and shake it out to reveal a pair of skimpy underwear that look to be made of strings. A tiny laugh stifles in my throat. “Everett, these aren’t mine. These are Evie’s.”
“What?” He tosses them across the room as if it was a fireball in my hands. “Geez.” He falls back on the pillow and stares up at the ceiling in a daze.
I can’t help but laugh as I land beside him.
“No offense to Evie”—I say, wrapping my arms around him—“but they’re nothing I’d want to wear day in and day out. It’s like putting dental floss where dental floss should never be. And those women that swearthey’re oh so comfortable? I think they’re lying to themselves. Evie just wants to be grown up and feel pretty.”
He grunts at the thought. “She’s growing up too fast.” He warms my stomach with his hand. “And my mother is right, this little sugar cookie will grow up quickly, too. We really need to enjoy the ride.”
“Aw, Sugar Cookie. I love that nickname. Can we call it Sugar Cookie until it arrives?”
“We can do whatever you like.” He dots a kiss to my nose.
“I’m glad you see things that way,” I say, turning off the light next to us. “Because there are so many things I’d like to do.”
And Everett makes sure we do them all.
Chapter 16
The next day at the bakery is hectic. It seems as if I’ve baked more apple crisps than there are apples in all of Vermont. And to make things a little more hectic, Lily has a date with some random person she met off a dating site, which means I have to close up shop. So much for her monogamous relationship with that beefy security guard, Seven. And I was really rooting for them. But Carlotta showed up to help me close, and so did Noah. Everett would have, but he’s having a late night himself at the courthouse, trying to sift through details for an important upcoming case.