Free Odd Girl In by Jo Whittemore Page B

said, following her. “Or anything else you aren’t.”
    Emily checked her reflection in the toaster and applied more lip gloss. “I just want to offer something that Chloe doesn’t. I want him to think I’m unique.”
    â€œOh, you definitely are,” I said.
    She frowned at me. “Not unique like a circus freak, Alexis.”
    â€œFine, but all joking aside, you do stand out,” I said. “In an ambitious way. I can’t think of anyone else who would buy ingredients for a hundred different desserts when she’s only making one.”
    I gestured to the kitchen counters, which were covered with spices, fruits, and all kinds of other baking ingredients.
    â€œI don’t know what Trevor’s planning to make,” she said. “And I don’t want him to think I’m unprepared.”
    The doorbell rang then, and Emily practically jumped out of her skin. “He’s early!”
    â€œWell, your stepmom did teach him time management skills,” I pointed out.
    Emily flashed me an annoyed look and ran to the door.
    â€œHey!” said Trevor when she let him in. He smiled at her and waved to me. “I hope you don’t mind, but I broughtthe ingredients to make my mom’s famous carrot cake.” He gestured to the paper grocery bag in his arm.
    The tiniest flicker of annoyance passed over Emily’s face, but she forced a smile. “Mind? Why would I mind? I mean, it’s not like there’s dozens of groceries waiting in the kitchen.”
    She let out a laugh that was probably meant to sound casual but came out kind of crazy. To show my support, I slapped my thigh and said, “Ha!”
    Trevor stared at both of us. “So the kitchen’s through here?” He started down the hall, but Emily grabbed his elbow.
    â€œHey, let Alexis take that bag.” She took it from Trevor and put it into my arms. “I wanted to show you something in the, uh, bathroom. It’s that way.” She pushed him in the opposite direction of the kitchen and turned back to me.
    â€œGet rid of all the food!” she hissed. Then she hurried to join him.
    I stood there for a second, holding Trevor’s groceries and wondering just how I’d become Emily’s lackey. Then I headed to the kitchen and gathered up armfuls of unopened ingredients, shoving them into the biggest empty space I could find—the dishwasher.
    I’d just started laying out Trevor’s items when I heard him and Emily approaching.
    â€œIsn’t that something?” she asked Trevor.
    â€œUh, yeah,” he said. “I never noticed how much a flushing toilet sounds like the ocean.” He gave me a strange look and I smiled.
    â€œSo what are we cooking up?” I asked.
    â€œOh, right. Voila!” Trevor reached into his back pocket and pulled out an index card.
    He rattled off the list of ingredients while I grabbed the matching items. Or rather, while I tried to grab the matching items. Every time I reached for something, Emily would dart forward and snatch it away.
    â€œHere are the carrots, Trevor!” she announced, followed by:
    â€œGot the milk!”
    â€œAll eggs accounted for!”
    â€œPecans coming right up!”
    Just to throw her off, I grabbed a dog toy from the floor. Emily yanked it from me and, before she realized, presented it to Trevor.
    He looked at the squeaky newspaper, smiled, and said, “Uh, maybe we can read The Daily Growl later.”
    Emily blushed and laughed. “Whoops!” Then she whirled around and fixed me with a frown. I shrugged innocently.
    When it came time to start mixing the ingredients, Emily sidled up to one side of Trevor so I moved to the other.
    She glanced at me and snapped her fingers. “You know what? We should both bring a dessert to the party.”
    I narrowed my eyes. “Huh?”
    She nodded. “Alexis, why don’t you go ahead and start one