Page 41 of Wedding Cake Carnage
Monica brings back a heaping platter of nachos and five plates as she joins us at the table, yucking it up with Everett and Noah as if they were back in high school all over again. Monica sheds a killer smile as she takes the two of them in. I can tell she’s in yesteryear heaven. They all seem to be.
Cormack doesn’t care for it.
I don’t like it.
Beasty lets out a nonstop growl and a lesser-trained ear might think he was purring.
A lesser-trained sleuth—a transfixed old boyfriend—might think Monica was innocent.
But she had the motive to commit murder.
And I’m going to dig down deep enough to find out whether or not our chesty friend with a killer smile is a killer indeed.
We finally wrap it up, and both Everett and Noah dig down deep into their pockets and leave a monstrous tip before we head out to the parking lot. Everett and I stop short as we get to his fancy ride, only to discover his windshield has been bashed in and reduced to rubble right over the driver’s side.
We hitch a ride home with Noah and Cormack.
And all the way there I hold on tight to Everett.
She’s still out there.
And she’s not afraid to let us know it.
Chapter 14
The thought of spending the night with both Everett and Noah sounds more like a decadent fantasy gone awry than it ever would something seemingly mundane—but after we indulge in some delicious Wicked Wok and play a few games of Jenga, we each get ready for bed and exchange stories of our younger, far less wiser days. Noah and Everett share tales from the crypt, otherwise known as their high school years, in which Monica plays a starring role. I’ll admit, it’s refreshing to hear something other than Cormack’s name for a change.
Toby snuggles up next to me on the couch while Noah holds Pancake, and Waffles lies over Everett’s back. It’s like summer camp, and I happen to have two of the cutest boys in my bunk.
I look to the two of them and bite down on a smile. “You know, if I didn’t know better, I’d say the two of you were finally getting along. Who knew getting to second base with Monica on the very same night would be the tie that binds?”
Noah belts out a laugh and Everett moans.
“I wouldn’t read too much into it, Lemon. The past is a nice place to visit, but it’s not where we live.”
Noah takes a deep breath. “He’s right. We live here, under my roof because his bed-hopping habit caused him to pick up a psychotic. But lucky for me, that lands you here as well, Lot.” He rocks back onto his elbows. “Do you realize we’ve been sleeping under one roof going on a month now?”
“And she’s still not in your bed.” Everett clicks his tongue. “I hate to break it to you, man. But you don’t have her anymore.”
Noah chooses to ignore him. “So, who’s next on the suspect list, Lot?”
“Jackie. Both Tracy and Monica made her sound dicey. If Monica is right and she’s sleeping with Pierce, that makes me question her role in all this.”
Everett tips his head my way. “I’ve seen grief drive people to do the unimaginable.”
“Yes, Lottie”—Noah flashes a quick grin to Everett—“look whose arms you ended up in.”
Everett huffs, “After she found out you had a wife? The blinders fell off. She’s right where she belongs.”
Noah bears into me with that forlorn gaze. “Are you?” he mouths the words, and I’m too mesmerized by his eyes to answer.
“I think we should stick to the case. We’ll talk about Jackie tomorrow,” I say as I drift off to sleep.
It feels strangely good like this with both Noah and Everett. It feels strangely safe—even if we’re anything but.
* * *
“So,you haven’t told Noah or Everett about that madwoman who called you up and told you to die?” Keelie blinks my way with an air of disbelief as we stand in the kitchen of the Cutie Pie Cakery and Bakery.