Page 86 of Stay for Forever

Chapter 29

All I’m saying is the canary was alive before you got here.

“Knock! Knock!” Ashlyn shouts before walking into my house.

I cock my eyebrow. “Are you sure you want to be in here?”

She fists her hands at her hips. “Yes, because I’m positive someone lied to me about a certain snake and its whereabouts.”

There’s only one way she could know the truth. “Mav told you?”

“Yup.”

When did Mav and Ashlyn meet without me? According to him, he’s been spending all of his time at home reading scripts to decide the next movie he wants to act in. Is he lying to me? Whoa, Juniper. What are you thinking? Do not go down the rabbit hole. Step away from the edge. You are not the jealous girlfriend. Moving on.

“What’s up? What are you doing here?”

“I can’t stop by my sister’s house for a visit?”

I snort. “When have you ever stopped by anyone’s house for a visit without having an ulterior motive?”

“You make me sound like a supervillain.” She beams. “Thanks.”

“You don’t want to be a superhero?”

Her nose wrinkles. “Of course, not. Superheroes are boring. Always saving the world. Bah. The villains are the interesting ones. They come up with fantastic inventions and are out for revenge.”

Why did I ask? I should have known Ashlyn prefers villains to heroes, although she is married to her own real-life hero. Rowan can do no wrong in her eyes.

Speaking of Rowan… “How’s the baby?”

She rubs a hand over her still flat belly. “Mini-me is doing great. Doesn’t let me sleep much, but otherwise, you won’t hear me complaining. Make sure you mention it to Ellery. Ashlyn’s pregnancy is way easier than hers was.”

“I’ll phone her right now.”

She wags her finger at me. “No need to be sarcastic. You, too, can get pregnant and have a mini-me.”

Except I don’t want a mini-me. I want a mini-Mav complete with piercing blue eyes and thick brown hair. Hold up, Juniper. You’re not ready for children, remember? Exactly. No mini-Mavericks. Yet.

“Did you stop by to convince me to join the pregnant brigade?”

“Nope.” She pops the p but says no more. I don’t wait her out. It’s a toss up as to which of us is the most stubborn, although Ellery will always win most stubborn West sister of the century.

“But you came here because…”

She rocks on her heels. “Because I figured out the next clue in the Mystery of the Black Hat Bandit’s Missing Loot!” She raises her arms in the air and whoops.

“And it is …”

“Can’t tell you. I have to show you.” She motions toward the door. “Time to go.”

“Slow down, little missy. You’re pregnant. You should be concentrating on growing your baby and not chasing after some loot, which probably doesn’t exist in the first place.”

She shoves her hand in my face. “Nope. I will not listen to my sister tell me what I can and cannot do as a pregnant woman. Rowan’s bad enough. Slow down. Don’t jump off the stairs. Don’t light the kitchen on fire. Geez. I’m having a child. I’m not a child.”

“You set the kitchen on fire?”

She waves away my concern. “It was an accident. Who knew you’re not supposed to put aluminum foil in the microwave?”

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