Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 130512 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 653(@200wpm)___ 522(@250wpm)___ 435(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 130512 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 653(@200wpm)___ 522(@250wpm)___ 435(@300wpm)
I heard from the background, “Not helping, Sam!”
She moved away from the phone. “Sorry, Mark. Mason’s on the phone. He wanted to know what was going on.”
I shook my head. “I might argue with that statement.”
She snorted and returned to whispering again. “Okay, and now they’re—oh! They broke up last summer. Cass dated someone else. Wait. Did Mark?”
“Really not helping, Sam!” That was Mark again.
I heard shuffling movements. A slight squeak. The yelling quieted a little.
I frowned. “You’re hiding in the pantry?”
“Shh. I want them to forget I’m here.”
“Where is Maddy?”
“She’s at the kitchen counter. She and Logan are eating the popcorn, and they’re transfixed.”
“What about Taylor and Sammy?”
“Sammy’s with David and Malinda, and Taylor is upstairs packing.”
“Matteo left this morning?”
“Oh my God! That was what started this whole thing.” Her voice hitched. My senses were scrambled. I couldn’t tell if she was excited, horrified, or whatever else she could be feeling. “My whole thing with putting Matteo in the pool house backfired. He did hook up with someone, but guess who?”
I had decided. I officially didn’t care about any of this. “I’m guessing it wasn’t Mark.”
“It was Cass! He doesn’t know her the way we know her. And Mark’s not always around, you know? Anyway, during their break, she got with Matteo. They met randomly at a bar in town. It was during one of his visits here. Then she told him.”
“Matteo?”
“No. Mark. She told Mark that she’d hooked up with Matteo. She didn’t think Mark knew who Matteo was, but how could he not? Then again, you and him had a weird thing going for a while and Matteo wasn’t around in high school. Mark was never around in college. Plus, he doesn’t hang out with us that much. But Matteo and Cass saw each other at the funeral yesterday and well, now this is happening. Hold on. They’re talking again.”
Her phone buzzed.
“Why is Heather asking why Channing has to go look for bodies where you are?” She gave up whispering, going straight to high-pitched and not happy.
I turned on to the road that led into our neighborhood. “It’s nothing to talk about right now. I’ll be home in five minutes.”
“Are you sure?”
“Did Cass murder Mark yet? Do I need to send Channing to our house to look for a couple more bodies?”
“Har har. You’re so funny.”
“I’m a riot.”
“I think they should both cut their losses.”
“Channing or the bodies?”
“What?” she hissed. “What’s with the bodies talk? And no. Cass and Mark. I mean, I don’t think she and Matteo are a love match. I don’t think Matteo will hook up with her again, but it’s time to move on. Meet someone else. Marry. I wonder if Cass froze her eggs? Probably not if they had a pregnancy scare last summer.”
I really did not care, but I was at our gate and hit the button to open it. We had a large courtyard, and most of the time we could easily park six vehicles. Tonight we had a couple more, but the last white Vespa was parked diagonally, so I couldn’t get around it. I growled. That likely wasn’t Mark’s car.
Slamming my Escalade to a stop, I left it where it was and stalked for the house. As I got to the door, I could hear the shouting. It got decidedly louder when I opened it, and I took a second to scan where everyone was.
Sam came out of the pantry, and Logan smirked at me.
Maddy met my gaze and smiled. She held a hand up to hide her mouth and pointed at Cass. “She’s an HBOTC.” Her eyebrows went up and held for dramatic effect.
I scowled. “Way to be real worried about me.”
Her grin fell flat. “What?”
“Nothing.”
“Wait. Dad. What? You said you were okay?”
She was right. I had.
Logan was now eating his popcorn slower, and his eyes were volleying between my daughter and me. Mark and Cass had momentarily paused in their fighting.
“What happened?” Logan asked, his frown deepening.
I shook my head, deciding that I needed a drink. “Nothing.”
Maddy was chewing her bottom lip.
I crossed to her and brushed some hair from her forehead. Giving her a kiss there, I said, “I’m sorry. I’m all good. I’m glad you came to the office today.”
“Are you sure, Dad?” She twisted around to look up at me from her chair.
I nodded. “I’m sure, sweetie.”
Sam was continuing to frown at me, but I ignored her and Logan for a moment. I kept scanning, finding Nolan and Nash at the top of the stairs. When confrontations happened, they could always be found on the stairs. It had been their perch since they were three.
I headed for them. As I did, Taylor was coming from behind them.
Mark and Cass picked up their fighting, but I tuned them out except I heard Mark huff, “Don’t bring my mother into this.”