Murder in the Mix Boxed Set 28-30: Cozy Mystery Addison Moore (the reading strategies book .txt) 📖

for the geese is good for the gander.” She gasps as she grabs ahold of Dash. “We gotta run. Carlotta is coming, and in no way do I want to be mentioned in her upcoming book on tips and tricks for cougars.”

The two of them take off as Carlotta steps this way and snaps her fingers as if she were truly frustrated she missed them.

“It looks as if I’ll have to nix the chapter on the teen scene.” She looks to Everett and me. “I guess that opens up some more room for the two of you. How about a chapter on how the two of you keep the spice alive?”

“I could tell you, but then I’d have to kill you.” I shrug her way.

“Speaking of kill”—Everett squints out at the distance—“I think I see Conner putting the moves on Evie. I’d better go say hello with my little friend.” He takes off, and Carlotta’s mouth roots to the floor.

“I figured Sexy had a special name for his goods, but Little Friend wasn’t even on the short list.” She swats me. “Short list, get it? Short list?”

“You’re hilarious,” I grouse just as Meg and Lainey crop up. And yes, they came to the funeral as well, which makes sense because Meg is close with the Canellis and Lainey heard there would be free desserts from Sofia’s Sweet Shop. Heck, I’d crash a wake or two for these cannolis.

“Guess who’s going to Starry Falls in a couple days for a female wrestling meet and greet?” Meg hitches her thumb at her chest. “This girl.”

“Starry Falls?” I marvel. “Aw, I love that little sleepy town with its dreamy falls. Remember when Mom and Dad used to take us there way back when and we’d visit that creepy manor with all the cats surrounding it? That’s the very reason I eventually got Pancake—and, of course, Waffles because I told Nell how great the cats were and she wanted one for herself.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Lainey waves me off. “Never mind the Mortimer Manor. I hear it’s haunted these days. Who’s on the short list?” Lainey asks while popping a raspberry thumbprint cookie into her mouth.

“Sexy’s pecker,” Carlotta doesn’t hesitate propagating false rumors.

“It is not,” I’m quick to correct.

“It is so.” Carlotta is resolved to take down Everett’s dignity. “He calls it his little friend. He just said so himself.”

Meg howls with laughter. “I knew this day had the potential to bring about the unexpected, but I’ll admit, I didn’t see that one coming. It’s safe to say you and Everett had a little secret between you.”

“Really?” Lainey wrinkles her nose. “I haven’t been this disappointed since I found out Santa wasn’t real.”

“Think of how Lot must feel.” Carlotta pats me on the back. “It’s her tiny burden to bear.”

Meg shakes her head. “I’d have pegged him for a cucumber.”

“He is”—Lainey shrugs—“the kind they make pickles out of.”

The three of them share a wild cackle.

“Stop,” I groan. “I’m not even going to entertain this conversation, but if you must know, you’re all trolling one hundred percent in the wrong direction.” I spot Rocky Romero standing alone by the coffee—or at least as alone as he can be with Flo by his side—and feel like I should go over and say something to him. “I’m leaving now,” I say.

“Wait a minute,” Meg calls after me. “What are we looking at? A banana?”

“A pogo stick?” Lainey calls out, and the three of them are right back to cackling.

“Rocky,” I say brightly to the morose looking man as Flo dots his face with kisses. “How are you holding up?”

Flo makes a face. “He’s grieving like the good man he is.”

“I’m doing as well as can be expected.” His shoulders bounce. “I talked to Nicky. We made peace more or less regarding Flo. He said he’d like to think she’d forgive him for stepping out on her.”

“Never.” Flo wiggles her claw-like fingernails my way. “I hope that boy suffers.” She cocks her head. “Hey, wait a minute. This might be my last chance to figure out who the wench was. Why don’t you ask him?”

“Rocky, do you know who the other woman was? I mean, she’d have to be pretty brave to step between Flo and her man. Flo wasn’t just beautiful, she was a powerful woman.”

“I knew I liked you, Lottie Lemon.” She brays out a laugh.

Rocky nods. “My money is on Donata.”

Flo’s face ignites a brilliant shade of red. “That little slut!” Her eyes dart in every direction at once. “Let’s go kill her. Grab a gun, Lottie, would you?”

I shake my head her way. “Donata?” I look up at him. “You really think she’d do something like that to her own friend? Steal her boyfriend?”

“Yeah, I do.” He shrugs. “Right before she pulled the trigger. Excuse me.” He takes off, and Flo lets out an egregiously loud roar.

“Wow, Flo, you were less angry when you thought she offed you.”

She makes a face. “Because I happened to doubt that theory. This one? Not so much. Let’s go find her.”

“Fine,” I say. “But I need to make a quick pit stop to the little girls’ room.”

“I’ll come along for the ride. How I miss those meetups in the ladies’ room. You know, I thought I had a lot of problems, but now that I’m dead, I can see that I had a lot of blessings with a couple of fringe issues that I should never have let bother me. Don’t take your life for granted, Lottie. And for sure don’t sweat the small stuff. Because come to find out, ninety-nine percent of it is just that—small stuff.”

“Agree,” I say. “With the exception of what my husband happens to be packing.”

We take off for the restroom, and it has a line nine deep.

“Come this way.” Flo pulls me down a few halls and into the restaurant proper. “There’s another restroom in the back where no one ever goes. It’s the perfect place to drag your man if you’re itching for