Page 91 of Clean Out of Luck

I bend down and kiss her cheek as she hands me my phone and wallet. “I know. Why do you think I came clean today? I knew you would figure it out sooner or later. And I want you to know you can always trust me. I will always have your back, and I will always support you in making your own informed decisions.”

She laces her hand through mine and sets her sunglasses on her head as we walk down the hallway toward the back staircase. I’m leaving a trail of wet footprints.

“So, are you going to get even with Phoenix too?”

“I’m worried.” I pace back and forth in the Fernsbys’ living room. Phoenix is staying at the Fernsby house while he’s here this weekend, and he texted me this morning to come over. I haven’t told him that Scarlett knows.

Scarlett is ignoring both of our texts. And we still belong in the doghouse for not coming clean to her. She told me she’d talk to me in a couple of days—after she took care of business.

I have no doubt that business is called getting even with her brother. I’ve been a vault of secrets today, not telling Phoenix that she confronted me.

Phoenix stops his own pacing and stares at me. “Wait a sec…”

I look away quickly. He’s a professional scrutinizer, and I don’t want to give anything away.

“You told her about me, didn’t you?”

I try to look at him with wide-eyed innocence.

He doesn’t buy it. “You didn’t keep your mouth shut.”

“Yes. I told her you were happy about us. And then she pushed me into a pool. We had a good talk. But now I haven’t heard from her all day, and I’m starting to worry.” That part is also true. I’m halfway worried she’s decided I’m not worth it.

“See? I told you you should have kept it a secret. You shouldn’t have told her I was rooting for you guys. Now she’s going to ghost us both.”

Phoenix flops down on the couch, taps his hand on the arm three times, then stands up and starts pacing again. “You should have just carried that secret to the grave with you.” He stomps into the kitchen and rummages around the fridge for a water bottle.

“Oh, yeah, I’m sure lying to Scarlett would be a great foundation for our relationship. Good plan, Phoenix,” I reply. I might be on a shaky foundation right now, but I’m glad I told her the truth. I could not look her in the eye and lie to her. I just couldn’t.

“What are you going to do now?” Phoenix asks as he paces back and forth in the kitchen.

“I promised her I would give her time.”

“Not a good idea. Too much time, and she’ll realize she can do better than you.”

“Geez, thanks for that vote of confidence.” I pull myphone out of my pocket when I hear a chime. “That’s not mine, it’s yours.

Phoenix picks up his phone from the counter. “It’s my neighbor from across the street. He says there’s a chicken in my yard. That’s weird. I don’t think any of the neighbors have chickens.”

He sets his phone down, walks to the big bay window, and slides the curtain to the left a few inches. His head swivels back and forth and then stops abruptly, a look of surprise on his face. “What the?—”

I move next to him and pull the curtain back a little more so I can see this rogue chicken.

I snort with a burst of laughter when I see it.

There is a large, blow-up chicken standing in the center of the yard. It looks like it’s at least seven feet tall.

“Did someone just prank you?” I ask with a laugh as we both stare at the chicken.

But then the chicken starts to move. And soon, it’s running back and forth across the yard.

“I’m pretty sure there’s someone in that chicken suit,” Phoenix finally manages to say between bouts of laughter.

“And I’ve got some pretty good guesses as to who.” My cheeks are hurting from smiling.

Scarlett Fernsby is getting even with us.

I make it onto the porch first. “Scarlett! What the heck are you doing?” I call out.

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