Free Year of Living Blonde (Sweet Life in Seattle, Book 1) by Andrea Simonne Page A

don’t you sleep in the master bedroom instead of on the couch? Obviously, I’m not using it.”
    “I don’t mind the couch. Besides, it’d feel weird sleeping in your marital bed. ” Lindsay gives a small shiver.
    “Don’t be so quick to dismiss it. That bedroom has its own bathroom with a sunken tub. Plus, it will drive Peter crazy if he finds out you’re sleeping in there.”
    Lindsay grins. “I can’t believe I didn’t think of that myself! I’ll move my things in there tonight.”
    “I’ll put clean sheets on right after dinner.”
    “And next month I’m going to decorate his nightstand with a big bowl of Halloween candy.” Lindsay smiles deviously. “I can’t wait. I only wish I could see his face when you tell him.”
    “Don’t worry, he’ll hate it.”
    “That’s what I’m counting on. Pissing off the ass clown.”
    Being a dentist, Peter is a stickler about sugar, something that was occasionally a point of contention, seeing that Natalie bakes sweets for a living. They’d learned to compromise, and even Peter agreed some sweets in moderation are okay. In truth, Natalie thought he secretly loved desserts, but just didn’t want to admit it. He hated Halloween candy with a passion, though.
    “Are you starting a diet?” Lindsay watches as Natalie puts a large frying pan on the stove.
    “No, I don’t think so. Why do you ask?”
    “Because you were exercising, and now you’re eating vegetarian food.”
    “I’m making veggie burgers for Chloe.” Natalie thinks about Lindsay’s question though as she cooks. Maybe I am starting a diet. Natalie feels a small sense of panic even thinking those words. She’s started so many diets over the years. It seemed like every Monday of her life she started a diet, until she finally gave up.
    When the food is ready, Natalie goes to get Chloe and discovers her talking on her phone in the family room. Against Natalie’s wishes, Peter recently bought Chloe a smartphone, even though they’d agreed to wait until she was older. Peter kept insisting it was in Chloe’s best interest to have a phone now, just in case she needed to reach him. Chloe was, of course, thrilled. Natalie didn’t like it, but there wasn’t much she could do.
    “Who were you talking to?” Natalie asks.
    “Daddy.”
    “I see.”
    Chloe is quiet as she follows her to the table and the three of them sit down for dinner.
    Natalie decides to eat her veggie burger without mayonnaise, and is surprised to find that it doesn’t taste too bad. Piling on the lettuce and tomato seems to help.
    The three of them are eating silently until Chloe suddenly speaks up. “Daddy told me that you hit Lena today. Is that true?”
    “ What? ” Natalie nearly chokes on her burger.
    “He said you got into a fight with her.” Chloe’s voice quivers.
    Natalie is ready to call Peter and scream at him, when she suddenly feels Lindsay’s hand on her arm.
    “Your mom was amazing today,” Lindsay says to Chloe.
    “She was?”
    “You should have seen the way she handled Lena.”
    “Lindsay!” Natalie shoots her sister a dark look. “This is not something we should be talking about!”
    “Hey, Peter’s obviously already told her. We might as well set the record straight.”
    “What do you mean?” Chloe asks, her gaze roaming between the two of them.
    Lindsay wipes her hands with a napkin. “There’s no point denying the truth. She’s old enough to handle it, aren’t you?” Lindsay turns to Chloe.
    “Of course!” Chloe says eagerly.
    Natalie puts her burger down. She feels like she’s standing in the path of a hurricane and there’s nothing she can do about it. Peter is determined to cause trouble. And her sister is like a force of nature when she puts her mind to it. Peter should never have said anything to Chloe to begin with, though.
    “Your mom paid Lena a visit today,” Lindsay tells Chloe with a smile, “and she gave her the business.” She then proceeds to tell the whole