Page 38 of A Little Naughty

“It’s true,” Piper snorts. “Your brother knocked me up. I don’t know how I’m going to keep the paper going with a newborn.”

They’re joking around like old friends and siblings—both of which they all are—but none of them notice Cass has fallen quiet as she sips her tumbler of bourbon.

“I’ll help you, of course,” I say. “And we’ve got to get your mom back writing headlines.”

I have a tumbler, too, but I’m taking it easy. It’s practically the weekend, but I want to talk to Nikki when I get home, and I don’t want to be buzzed or smell like alcohol when I do.

“And it’s all worth it when they get here.” Cass’s voice is wistful, and she exchanges a glance with Alex.

He smiles at her warmly, reaching across the bar to squeeze her hand.

Then he tops off Britt’s glass and changes the subject. “So about this Mardi Gras ball… What are we thinking? Eight to midnight? Eight to two?”

“I think midnight is long enough. Especially for parents.” Piper leans against a barstool.

“What?” Britt’s voice goes high. “If we’re going through all the trouble and decoration and asking people to dress up, we should at least go until two. You’re just saying that because you’re pregnant and tired.”

“And still working full time.” Piper holds up her hands. “But okay—two it is.”

“You don’t have to stay that late,” I tell her. “I’ll be here, and I’m glad to oversee the late shift.”

“I would think by that time, everything will be running smoothly,” Cass adds.

“Don’t get too optimistic. It’s my event, after all,” Piper deadpans.

“I thought we’d moved past all that ‘bad luck’ thinking.” Britt waves a hand at her. “Everything you call bad luck actually turns out wonderfully for you.”

“Including that wedding reception?” Piper hesitates, placing a hand over her lips. “Alex, do you have any saltines back there? I’m feeling ick.”

“I do!” I pull my purse out and dig in it, feeling vindicated after Monay tried to shame me. “I have lots of saltines. I also have these little biscottis I got at a hotel in Branson. I got these at a McDonald’s outside of Rayfield. Who knew McDonald’s gave away cookie samples?”

I put several small, plastic packages on the bar in front of Piper.

“Oh, I love McDonald’s cookies!” Britt picks up the small bag, inspecting the character’s faces. “Look, it’s Grimace!”

“Isn’t a grimace a frown?” Piper tears the plastic off the saltines. “I never understood why they called him that. He’s always smiling and sweet. What is he, anyway?”

“I also have these.” I pull out another package of oyster crackers. “They’re fun to eat. You can break them in half with your tongue.”

Cass leans over to look into my bag. “Why do you have so many condiments in your purse?”

“Is that so many?” I blink up at her, smiling nervously and moving my bag to my lap again.

It’s possible I got too excited about being helpful.

Cass rakes everything I’ve put on the bar into a pile. “Umm… yes. And there’s more in there?”

Pressing my lips together, I carefully pick up the cookies, returning them to my purse. “I didn’t steal them. They give them away for free at the restaurants.”

“But you don’t need five thousand little bags of crackers.” She leans closer. “What else do you have in there?”

“Just a few things.” I don’t show her the pots of jelly and the tiny bottles of Tabasco sauce. I even have a few envelopes of honey, which I consider to be the jackpot. Honey is so expensive. “I have a child now. She needs snacks.”

“Nine-year-olds don’t snack.” Cass looks from me to Piper, who’s opening her second two-pack of crackers. “Do they?”

“Ryan doesn’t.” Piper shrugs. “But every kid is different.”

“Owen eats everything.” Britt dunks a cherry up and down in her drink before biting it off the stem. “I guess he doesn’t snack that much, though.”

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