Free The Bookworm Next Door: The Expanded and Revised Edition by Alicia J. Chumney Page A

arguing about something.”
                  Throwing her hands up in the air, without noticing that she was flinging ice cream, “Finally!” she exclaimed. “Somebody gets it.”
                  Brady’s response was, “You are close to your cousin?”
                  “He’s like a younger brother to me, especially since I don’t have any siblings and my father likes to play catch with him in the backyard.”  That was all that Hannah was willing to share with somebody she barely knew, especially about her lack of siblings and father’s disappointment.
                  The harried employee glared over at them thanks to Savannah’s enthusiasm.  He mentally refused to clean up the mess of melting ice cream caused by the customer that acted like she did not care just how loud she was being. 
                  “Umm, Savannah, you might want to clean up your mess,” Brady pointed out.  “I think we’re about to get kicked out.” 
                  Savannah hurried over to where her ice cream was melting and gave the employee a sheepish smile.  “Sorry.  I’m trying to set up my ex-boyfriend with one of my friends from church.”
                  That left Hannah and Brady in the booth while Savannah apologized to Jefferson, according to his name tag.  “Is she normally this energetic?”
                  “Not usually, but she is on a sugar rush while also trying to get her master plan to work,” Brady answered, turning to get a better look at the girl sitting next to him.  “So, you’ve been checking me out.”
                  “So have you!”
                  “Touché.” 
                  “We could go out to make her happy,” Hannah whispered. 
                  “There are a few minor details that need to be discussed first,” Brady pointed out.  “My sister and her best friend for example.” 
                  Hannah blinked, thinking about who his sister and her best friend were and why that would be a problem.  “Kelly and Aimee…” she left the implication dangle as she thought about the pair’s reputation.
                  “Exactly.” 
                  When Savannah slid back into her spot, she interrupted, “Kelly is easy to get around.  If you can get on her good side and include her in some things then she will be easy to deal with.  As long as Kelly is happy then Aimee doesn’t get involved in matters.”  Cutting off a section of her cupcake, “You could also apply some of that age old advice.”
              “What’s that?”
                  “Keep your friends close but your enemies closer.” 
                  Brady and Hannah looked at each other with that piece of advice sitting between them.  It could work but that would also mean purposely getting roped into Aimee and Kelly’s schemes.  She would be untouchable only if she didn’t anger either girl.  Would it be worth losing some of her good friends in order to have her chance with Brady?
                  “You could always explain it to your friends,” Brady suggested.  “If we actually work out that is.”
                  “They would probably understand.  I know my friends in theatre would love the acting that would be involved with this double-cross, but some of them might not like that it’s for a boy.”
                  Savannah responded, “I believe that the two of you could be in it for the long haul.  You’ll have to trust my instincts.”
                  “She does have good instincts,” Brady mumbled. 
                  “You should take the next two weeks to get to know each other.  Message each other or something.  Text.  Call.  But remember, I still have two weeks of a charade to pull off and don’t