Truth Game by Anna Staniszewski Read Free Book Online Page A

have a job, who knows what will happen? Thankfully, her cleaning business is doing better these days, but I know she’s still pretty mad at my dad for leaving us high and dry.
    â€œHave you been looking?” Mom asks.
    â€œI only got back into town,” Dad says, smoothing down his napkin. “I haven’t had a chance yet.”
    â€œYou could have tried to line something up before you came up here,” she points out. “At least set up some interviews over the phone.”
    Dad laughs. “You know planning has never been my forte, Amanda,” he says, which is probably the worst thing he could say since Mom is one of the biggest planners on the planet.
    â€œThat doesn’t mean you can’t try to be better at it,” she says. “Just because we’ve made mistakes in the past doesn’t mean we have to keep repeating them. Think about your daughter!”
    Oh boy. It sounds like all the stuff Mom has been not saying for years is finally leaking out. I can practically hear the ground rumbling under us, the volcano about to erupt.
    â€œI heard it’s supposed to snow tomorrow,” I blurt out. Of course, that’s totally untrue, but I can’t let this conversation keep going like this.
    Mr. Hammond raises an eyebrow. “Really? This time of year?”
    â€œI might have to ski to school!” I say. “Wouldn’t that be crazy, Mom? Dad?” But they’re not listening.
    â€œThink about my daughter?” Dad repeats. “Do you think I’ve somehow forgotten about her? I do nothing but think about how I can make her happy. That’s why I came back in the first place.”
    â€œYou certainly weren’t thinking about that when you left!” Mom says, her voice growing louder. People are staring at us, which is mortifying since my family has been coming here for as long as I can remember. The waitstaff knows us all, and now they’re watching us have a total meltdown.
    I need to do something to make it stop.
    â€œI’m going to be on TV!” I practically yell.
    My parents finally stop glaring at each other and look at me. “What was that?” Mom says.
    Then, in a tumble of words, I tell them all about the Montelle-Brennan wedding. “If I can show Chip Ackerson that I deserve to be on TV, maybe he’ll give me another chance at Pastry Wars !”
    â€œChip’s going to be in town?” Mom asks, looking like she might swoon. “Really?” Mr. Hammond rolls his eyes, but he’s smiling.
    â€œI don’t know if I’ll actually be at the wedding,” I admit, “but I’m sure I’ll be able to find some way to get my desserts to Chip.”
    â€œThat’s great, Roo,” Dad says, but for some reason he doesn’t sound as excited as I thought he’d be.
    â€œYou don’t think he should give me another chance?” I ask him.
    â€œOf course I do! I think they were dingbats to reject you in the first place. I don’t want you to get your hopes up, that’s all. Things like this can be so unpredictable.”
    â€œYour father’s right,” Mom says, and I’m shocked to hear them agreeing on something.
    â€œBut I’ve been working so hard at my baking,” I say. “I’m so much better than I was a few months ago. I know if I can get Chip to actually taste one of my desserts, then he’ll take me on for sure.”
    Dad smiles and gives my elbow a squeeze. “He’d be a fool not to,” he says.
    Thankfully, our food comes and my parents go back to having strained but polite conversation. I glance at Mr. Hammond, who looks totally uncomfortable. I don’t blame him. Is this what my family is going to be like from now on?

Chapter 8
    That night, as I’m flipping through a huge French recipe book that I got out of the library, trying to figure out what dessert will wow Chip Ackerson, my phone beeps to tell me that the