“Sure.”
“Mom, if you have to ask, you’re totally not cool.”
“That’s why you’re my favorite niece,” she says to me, completely ignoring Lilah’s statement.
“I’m your only niece.” I giggle.
“Since I’m such a cool adult can I be included in the girl talk?” Katrina waggles her eyebrows.
Lilah rolls her eyes. “What we were discussing is between us.”
Katrina pokes out her bottom lip and gives me her saddest expression.
“Sorry, my lips are sealed.” I move my fingers across my lips in a zipping motion.
“Fine.” Her lips morph from a pout into a wide smile.
Nothing keeps Katrina down for long.
“I’m excited you’re here. We can talk about Missy’s surprise party.”
Though my mom’s birthday is on Sunday, my aunt knows how to party hard and doesn’t want to work on Monday with a hangover, so Saturday was the better option. There are four buildings on this plot of land. The main house, stable, vet clinic, and a guesthouse Katrina and Thomas had built a few years back. The guesthouse is where my friends and I used to party and have fun. Unfortunately our last get-together got out of control and Lilah’s father forbade her from stepping inside again. He even changed the locks. That’s where the surprise party will be.
“Missy thinks Ricky is taking her to some fancy restaurant for dinner on Saturday evening.He’s going to blindfold her and drive around for about forty-five minutes. They should arrive by eight o’clock, so I need you girls to be ready by four o’clock to help me with decorations.”
“You can count on me, Auntie.”
“I guess I could help,” Lilah mutters.
“Awesome!”
“What’s on the menu?” I ask.
“Tons of good ole southern dishes. The caterer and DJ are scheduled to arrive at six o’clock.”
“Wow, you’re going all out.”
“Of course, it’s a big day for Missy.”
“Mom!” Dionte comes running into the room, distressed.
“What is it?”
“I can’t find my Nintendo Switch, and I know Lilah took it.” He throws her an accusatory look, pointing a finger at her.
“Lilah?”
“Did you see me take it?”
“I fell asleep with it on my bed.”
“What did I tell you about staying up late playing games?” Katrina asks.
“Yeah, brat. Your brain cells are probably mush by now,” Lilah says.
“Do you have his game or not?”
“I told him to stay out of my bedroom and out of my things.”
