Double Trouble by Tia Mowry Read Free Book Online Page A

maybe in her car—I can try to check there later.”
    She frowned. “Are you going to chill out now? Because my friends will be here soon, and I’d rather not have them see you acting like a maniac.”
    Once again, she was right. Checking my watch, I realized that Megan and Lavender would be arriving in a few minutes. “I’m done,” I said. “At least for now. But that doesn’t mean I’m giving up.”
    Cait didn’t respond. I shrugged, then headed back into Mom’s room to straighten up her drawers.
    By the time I emerged, Liam and Bianca were there, lounging on the sofa, and Caitlyn was puttering around in the kitchen.
    â€œHi, Cassie,” Liam said. “Happy almost birthday.”
    â€œThanks,” I muttered, heading to the kitchen to grab a glass of water. Playing detective was thirsty work, especially during a heat wave in a house with inadequate AC.
    â€œWant some lemonade?” Caitlyn asked. “I made it earlier.”
    â€œNo thanks.” I gulped down half my water. “So where are you and your friends planning to hang out? Because the girls will be here any second.”
    â€œWhat do you mean? We’re planning to stay right where we are.” She glanced out through the archway into the living room.
    â€œThen where are my friends and I supposed to go?” I demanded.
    Before she could say anything, there was a knock on the door. I hurried over to answer.
    â€œHey, Cassie,” Megan said with a smile as she and Lavender stepped inside. “Cute house.”
    â€œThanks.” Megan seemed sincere, but I couldn’t miss the look of disdain on Lav’s face as she glancedaround the small living room. I couldn’t help seeing it through her eyes. The dingy way-off-white carpet. The cloudy glass in the windows. The missing trim around one of the doorways. I’d already known the place was a dump. Somehow, though, all the work Mom made us do when we first moved in had disguised that a little. But only a little.
    Finally Lavender’s gaze settled on Liam and Bianca. “What are they doing here?” she said.
    â€œSorry,” I murmured. “My sister invited them.”
    â€œDoes that mean they’ll be at your party?” Lavender sounded surprised.
    â€œSssh,” Megan hushed her. “It’s no big deal. The more the merrier.” She waved and smiled brightly at the pair. “Hi, guys! What’s up?”
    Bianca just blinked, surprised that Megan was talking to her. No wonder. It was probably the first time ever.
    â€œCome on over here,” I told my friends, leading the way toward the dining table. “Want some snacks or something?”
    â€œNo thanks.” Lavender settled herself in Mom’schair. “We stopped at the store on the way over to drop off Amigo with my cousin.”
    â€œAmigo?” Liam echoed curiously.
    â€œMy dog,” Lavender said, actually flashing him a brief smile. “He hates staying home alone, and he loves greeting all the customers. Everyone loves him, too—I swear the store sells, like, ten times as much stuff when he’s there.” She giggled, then glanced at me. “Anyway, while we were there we had some ice cream.”
    Thanks for bringing some for me , I thought.
    Lavender’s family had been in Aura almost as long as Megan’s. They owned the town’s general store and often gave free snacks to Lav and her friends when they stopped in.
    A second later Caitlyn came in and passed out lemonade and cookies to Liam and Bianca. “Okay,” she said, sitting down cross-legged on the carpet in front of the sofa. “Let’s talk about this party.”
    â€œSure!” Liam replied eagerly. “I have lots of ideas. My favorite is a monster-movie theme. We’d dress up as our favorite monsters, and . . .”
    â€œMonsters?” Lavender let out a loud snort. “Absolutely