Page 9 of The Wicked

Crap, I’m staring.

“You don’t have anything stuck in your teeth,” I blurted.

This is why I stay behind the scenes.

“That’s good to hear.”

“So, uh, I just need to…”

…to get the hell out of here.Hiding in the bathroom until Brooke came to pick me up seemed like a great idea, and the bathrooms at the Peninsula were better than average. They came with sewing kits, shoe-shine sponges, and perfume samples, plus there was a rest area with a couch. I already regretted coming tonight. There had never been any question over whether the twins would screw up, so why oh why had I given in to the temptation to witness their mistakes in person?

You know why, Saralisa. Because every day for the past sixteen years, they criticised everything you said and everything you did.

And I was angry. At first after they fired me, I’d been in shock, but little by little, the numbness was turning to fury. The twins had ruined any chance I had of receiving my share of our inheritance, and worse, I couldn’t even find another job in this county. Only one events company was hiring, and when I’d given the manager my name, she’d tutted a little and then said that she’d heard I was difficult to work with. Three guesses who’d told her that lie.

Hadley Carpenter strode toward me—at least, I assumed it was Hadley Carpenter. Her features were hidden behind a sugar skull mask and a flower crown that matched the arch in the ballroom, but she was wearing a purple sash withIt’s My Birthday!written across it in ornate gold script. A pink Power Ranger in high-heeled pumps followed in her wake.

“Why isn’t the video montage playing?” Hadley asked her sidekick. “Tiffany and Skyler spent hours putting it together, and I gave specific instructions that it should be projected onto the wall above the band.”

“I asked one of the organisers, and she said they were having trouble with the laptop.”

Trouble with the laptop? More like they forgot to bring it.

“Why didn’t someone tell me earlier?Icould have brought a laptop.”

“Kayleigh promised she’d handle it. She said her assistant quit and left her in the lurch, so she’s rushed off her feet.”

Her assistant hadquit? The simmering anger turned into a five-alarm fire. Why were those shrews trying so hard to ruin my life when I’d done nothing but help them from the day I arrived in Baldwin’s Shore? In elementary school, I’d given them the cookies from my lunch; in middle school, I’d customised their clothing and braided their hair; and in high school, I’d been responsible for completing their assignments, although their GPAs still hadn’t been much to write home about because they never listened in class. And this was how they repaid me? By lying?

Screw them.

I lowered my voice conspiratorially. “I heard that the reason Kayleigh’s assistant quit is because Kayleigh spent more time in the bar than in the office.”

The Power Ranger spun around. “Really? Are you sure?”

“I mean, it’s just a rumour, but I heard it from my bestie’s sister, and she’s right, like, ninety-five percent of the time.”

“Oh my gosh.”

“Five bucks says Kayleigh starts on the free cocktails before ten p.m.” I smiled sweetly. “If you speak with Ingrid at the reception desk, I’m sure she’ll find you a laptop to use for the video thing.”

“Wow, thanks.”

I hurried into the bathroom before they could ask who I was and why I’d crashed the party, and as I locked myself in a bathroom stall, a tiny smile tugged at the corners of my lips. Revenge was sweet, and I was just getting started.

4

SARA

“The Mardi Gras girl is hot,” gym-phobic Batman said, then waved at the bartender. “Two more beers over here, buddy, plus a straw for Deadpool.”

Deadpool had modified his mask to allow him to drink, but eating was going to be a problem. What was he planning to do? Wait until midnight and then hoover up the leftovers? I checked my watch—ten to eight. Still at least five hours of the party to go, and the twins were looking delightfully harried. Every time they tried to grab a beverage or stop to chat with one of the guests, somebody asked them a logistical question. Or complained about something. Or wanted directions to the bathroom.

But somehow, Lillian still managed to look good as she went down in flames.

Deadpool turned to watch her speed-walk toward the kitchen—she needed to check the food was on time—and gave a muffled whistle.

“I’d let her breathe hot and heavy over me any time.”

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