Page 80 of The Spellreader and the Phoenix

Ha ha. You’re so funny.

Most annoying sibling in the entire world

I am a DELIGHT.

Seriously, though: I told you you should look into hiring someone. You see what happens when you listen to your sister?

Max

Lies. All lies.

Most annoying sibling in the entire world

That’s right. I’m always right. You should really have accepted that by now.

Look what Adam made!

What followed was a mouth-watering array of cakes and cookies that were all Halloween themed, including ghosts, witches, pumpkins, black cats, mummies, vampires, brooms, witches’ hats and more. There was even an entire cake crafted to look exactly like a jack-o’-lantern.

Rory peered over Max’s shoulder.

“Ooh, we can go visit your sister, can’t we?”

Max laughed. “Thinking with your stomach?”

Shrugging, Rory offered Max a grin. “Can’t deny how good that all looks.”

“Not quite ready to leave for long enough to visit California, but I’m considering options. So maybe eventually, okay?”

Rory nodded, accepting this easily. He was one of the most low-pressure people Max had ever met, and Max was never left with the feeling that Rory was conceding because he felt like he had to, or that he would be left upset or resentful.

It made Max more determined to figure out how to make it happen. Definitely not this year, but maybe after Evie’s visit, he could look into managing something for the summer?

Max

Those look delicious. Rory wants to eat them all.

Most annoying sibling in the entire world

We don’t ship across the country.

Max

Maybe we could come visit sometime next year. Late summer or autumn, maybe?

His phone rang. It was Evie. He answered. “Hello?”

“Seriously, is this a pod person impersonating my brother?” Evie demanded. “I didn’t mean it before, but now it’s an actual question.”

“I mean, whether I was or not, I’d still tell you no. Obviously,” Max drawled.

“Seriously!” Evie repeated, sounding worked up. “Come visit? You’ve scarcely left the bookshop in years, never mind the state.”

“I’m not that bad,” Max told her, rolling his eyes.

“You are absolutely that bad,” she argued. “You are the poster boy for not leaving home.”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m a terrible brother,” Max grumbled.