Page 10 of Secrets in Salem: Part One

She nods enthusiastically and whispers, "He did. An entire bag full. We had to hide it from Mom because she said no candy for me until I wasn't at risk of throwing up over the new carpet. Her words."

"Yes, her words that were completely ignored, and nowMomis going to have to replace the carpet. Again," Cassie says from directly behind her. Woman sure is stealthy. Not even I heard her open the door or step outside. Molly and I cringe before breaking out in laughter.

I pick myself up off the step, offering Molly a hand to help her up. As soon as she's standing, I go to Cassie and give her a tight hug. "Hey, pretty mama. How're you doing?"

"Not bad, sweetheart. I'll be better when you stop convincing my kids to rebel against me," she says, jabbing me in the ribs with her knuckles before I can pull away.

Laughing, I tell her, "I did no such thing. I'm the innocent party here."

"Yeah, and I was born yesterday," she volleys back with a smirk and a roll of her vibrant green eyes. Cassie is now in her late thirties, though you wouldn't believe it. Her hair is naturally strawberry blonde - only a few shades lighter than her daughter's - wavy, and cropped to her shoulders. The only wrinkles that adorn her face are the ones around her eyes. Otherwise, she looks only slightly older than me. I hope to age as gracefully as Cassie because she's killing it.

I grin at the woman who I consider family before cringing when her carpet comment sinks in. "Sorry about the carpet. In my defense, Max said he was going to be stealthy. You know better than I do there is no stopping that kid when he has a mission in mind."

Shrugging, I hold my hands on in a 'what can you do' motion.

Cass nods and mutters "Ain't that the damn truth" under her breath. I snort, smothering it when Molly looks at me weirdly. "Anyway, we're about to go shopping for Molly's birthday party. I know it's not until the end of November, but I want to get everything ready so I don't have to rush around like a headless chicken like I did last year. Want to tag along?" Cass asks, hooking her purse over her shoulder and calling inside for Max to move his ass.

I'm shaking my head and laughing at the same time. "I'd really love to, but I have to help Adam with research. I'm actually running late. I didn’t realise I was outside the house until Molls called my name, so I thought I’d stop and check on her since she was sick."

"Ah, okay, sweetheart. Well, we're doing pizza and movie night tomorrow. I know you're already coming over next weekend to babysit, but you're welcome to join us," she says, giving me her motherly smile that I adore. It's strange, because my mom has never quite mastered the smile an adoring mother would give her child. Cassie's smiles are always filled with love and warmth. My mom’s lack the warmth. Call me pathetic, but it's just nice to get a smile like that every now and then.

I nod quickly and smile. "I'll be there, and I'll bring the popcorn."

"You're amazing." She gives me a kiss on the cheek before calling into the house for Max once more. "Kid is going to give me gray hair before I hit forty. Alright, I'll see you tomorrow, Low."

"Yeah, see you tomorrow," I reply, turning to Molly with open arms while Cassie goes to start the car. She doesn't hesitate to give me another hug, squeezing tight and nuzzling her face into my shirt. I drop a kiss onto her head and mumble, "You're my favorite. Don't tell your brother."

"I heard that," Max says from the door, rolling his eyes while his sister runs to the car and jumps in. I grin at him, and he laughs. "Stay there. I have something for you."

He's racing for the kitchen before I can reply. When he comes back, he’s holding a bag filled with Snickers bars and Reese's peanut butter cups. Pretty sure there are Hershey's kisses in there too.Oh, this kid is good.

"Here. My stealth mode was on point last night," he tells me proudly, handing over the bag.

Laughing once more, I accept the candy with a shake of my head and admit to him, "Your mom is going to start thinking I'm corrupting you."

He rolls his eyes, shutting the door as he steps out of the house. "She already thinks you corrupt us. Anyway, we're having pizza tomorrow. Did Mom tell you?"

"Yep. I'll be here with popcorn," I repeat, stuffing the candy in my bag before facing him again. "Now get your ass moving. You know your mom hates waiting."

I'm the receiver of another eye roll and smirk, but he comes to hug me goodbye anyway. With my arms around him, I mumble, "You're my favorite. Don't tell your sister."

He laughs and pulls away. "You just said Molly was your favorite!"

Max starts walking to the car while I move down the path again, so I call, "What? You're both my favorite!"

I hear him snort before the door closes, and I walk the remainder of the path with a smile on my face. It doesn't even matter that I'm going to be late to meet Adam. Seeing Cass, Max, and Molly always puts me in a good mood. I’ll just have to buy Adam an extra coffee to make up for it. Maybe cake too.

Checking my watch as I walk down the street, a car honks its horn and my head rises fast enough to spot Molly and Max waving at me through the windows. I wave back with a grin then look at my watch again.

A minute until I'm supposed to meet Adam. Oops.Definitelygetting the cake.

Realizing how late I’m going to be, I start moving my feet that little bit faster. I'm practically flying through the town, my cardigan billowing behind me like a damn cape. I’d make a shitty superhero, that’s for sure. My shoes slap the sidewalk as I go, my bag continuously slipping down my shoulder with the weight of the chocolate and my laptop inside it. It’s a pain in the damn ass.

I check the time again, shaking my arm to turn my watch the right way.

In my super distracted state, I don't see the hard wall I crash into a second later. I stumble back, the ground suddenly racing for my ass like it’s raring to cop a feel. That is, until the wall grows a pair of arms and catches me.

Walls don't grow arms.

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