Page 20 of Toxic Apple Turnovers
“Then I don’t mind closing with you. And, for the record, I’m not babysitting. I’m spending quality time with the girl I love.”
“In that case, why don’t we head to the kitchen and I’ll teach you how to use the Hobart mixer?”
Cormack plops down in Noah’s empty seat, and Everett looks more than a little relieved.
“What’s up, lovebirds?” She gives a cheeky wink. “I bet you’re right back to planning your wedding.” She elongates the last word. “Hey? I was going to surprise Noah this Saturday night and take him to hear the wedding singer Amanda introduced me to”—her voice quiets down a notch—“the night she died. He’s performing at a wedding in Leeds, and the bride and groom have already given me the go-ahead to attend after the dinner portion of the reception. Why don’t the two of you come along? Amanda assured me that Christopher Castaneda was the one and only wedding singer we would ever want.”
“Chrissy?” I perk up as I look to Everett. “Are you free Saturday night?”
“For you? Always.”
Cormack squeals with delight. “Then it’s a date.” She claps as if it were a victory on her part. “How I love our double dates. Oh, Essex, did you ever think we’d be like family someday? And now that Noah and you have patched things up, we’re going to be exactly that. Hey? I know. How about the two of you get married next June, too? Oh, wait”—her cherry red nails strum against her cheek—“Noah and I are scheduled to get hitched first weekend of June, and I’m planning a honeymoon to end all honeymoons.” It comes out throaty and seductive, and suddenly I have the urge to shove Cormack’s face into the pizza box. “Maybe you should shoot for the first weekend in July?”
Everett cocks his head as if he were amused. “Why not the Fourth of July?”
Cormack gasps while dramatically clutching at her chest. “And that way not only will you have the easiest anniversary on record to remember, but the entire world will be celebrating with you.”
“It’s just the U.S. that will be celebrating,” I’m quick to point out before frowning at Everett for going along with her delusions. Now I’ll have to watch my back next Fourth of July in the event Cormack decides to throw us an impromptu wedding, and I’m pretty sure she’d do it. She seems to be our biggest cheerleader.
Cormack hops to her feet. “I’d better secure Hazel for all your wedding needs. Her calendar is bound to fill up just as quickly as her sister’s. See you Saturday night!”
Lily zips over. “Where are we headed Saturday night?” She shrugs. “I’m desperate for another date with Alex.”
“A wedding out in Leeds. Don’t outshine the bride.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.” Her eyes are wide and vacant looking as if she’s dreaming of exactly that right now.
Lily takes off, and I lean in toward Everett.
“The Fourth of July?”
“What? A good time will be had by all.”
I bite down on my lower lip. “I miss our good times.” My cheeks flood with color.
“Good,” Everett says it sober, as those serious cobalt eyes pierce through mine. “I like you missing me. It gives me hope.”
My chest pinches as he says it.
“My heart isn’t going anywhere, Everett.”
I’m afraid we both know it. Like it or not, my heart is very much tethered to two different people. My splintered heart doesn’t seem to be going anywhere indeed.
But I, however, am going somewhere this Thursday night whether Noah or Everett approves or not.
I may not be getting lucky with Everett tonight, but I’ll be getting lucky in just a few short days.
I’m coming for you, Connie Canelli.
And I hope whatever you’re about to tell me will make me shoutbingo.
Chapter 8
“Bingo!” Cormack shouts and I yank her back just as she tosses her arms up.
“I’m pretty sure that’s not how it works,” I say as we step into the cavernous basement beneath a restaurant called the Trattoria. Meg led the way, but once we arrived, she had an emergency down at Red Satin she needed to tend to. Something about a slippery runway and strippers down.
But Keelie and Cormack are with me. Lainey kindly declined my invite for a sisters’ night out, which I completely understand. Poor Lainey probably thinks she needs to start wearing a helmet and a Kevlar vest just to be in my presence, and she’s probably right.