Free Twice As Nice by Lin Oliver Page A

“I’ll ask my grandmother if we can use the counter.”
    â€œBut I don’t want to get kebab juice on my hats,” Bethany said.
    â€œWe’ll be really careful,” I promised. I steered Lauren and Bethany away from the door. Just before I left, I turned to Sammie and said, “Don’t worry. We’re going now.”
    â€œGood,” she said. “And don’t come back.”
    Then she opened the door and disappeared inside.
    GoGo was really nice and cleared off the whole counter for us. She put the bowls with different kebab marinades on top of the stove instead. “We’ve got curry, herb and garlic, and pineapple-soy,” she said. “I think your friends will have lots of tasty choices, Bethany.”
    â€œDo I get to do a tasting before the party?” Bethany asked. GoGo seemed quite surprised at that. “When my parents had their twenty-fifth anniversary party,” Bethany went on, “they had lots of tastings until they felt the chef finally got the menu right.”
    â€œWell, dear,” GoGo began. I knew what was coming. Whenever GoGo calls someone dear, it means she’s annoyed. “When you’ve been married twenty-five years, perhaps you’ll have lots of tastings, too. But you’re only sixteen, and I think you’re going to have to trust the chef on this one.”
    GoGo wiped off the counter with a damp cloth to make sure it was clean.
    â€œYou girls can put your things here,” she said. “I’m going down to the beach to watch the sunset.”
    As soon as GoGo left, Lily opened up the bags and started to put the hats on the counter. I wasn’t paying much attention, though. I kept glancing toward my bedroom. I really wanted to know what was going on in there. Lauren noticed and smiled a mischievous smile.
    â€œMe too,” she said, even though I hadn’t said anything.
    â€œMe too what?”
    â€œLet’s just say it. We’re both dying to know what’s happening. It’s your room, too. You have a right to know. Let’s go listen at the door and see if we can hear anything.”
    â€œLauren! That’s so not nice,” Bethany said. “Let’s do it.”
    â€œNo, you guys,” I pleaded. “Please don’t.”
    â€œI bet they snuck a boy in there,” Bethany giggled. “Who do you think it is?”
    â€œThere’s no boy in there,” I told her. “I promise you that.”
    â€œWell, what else could be so secret that if you found out, Sammie would never forgive you?” Lauren asked.
    Bethany slipped off her shoes.
    â€œTake your shoes off, too, Lauren, so we can tiptoe over there without a sound.”
    This was getting out of hand.
    â€œOkay,” I said. “I tell you what. I’ll go see if they’ll let me in. If it’s anything interesting, I’ll come back and tell you. If it isn’t, we can just forget it and work on the hats.”
    â€œYou promise?” Lauren said.
    I nodded and hurried off across our living room and down the tiny hall to our bedroom before they could change their minds.
    â€œSammie?” I whispered, knocking at the door again. “Let me in.”
    â€œWho’s with you?”
    â€œNo one. I swear.”
    I heard her whispering with Alicia and Sara, then a rushing around of footsteps. After a few seconds, Sammie cracked open the door and stuck her head out.
    â€œWhat do you want?”
    â€œJust let me in.” I pushed by her and went inside, expecting to be really surprised by something I saw. I didn’t think it would be a boy, but knowing Sammie, it could have been a stray dog. We had seen a lost-looking German Shepherd on the beach the other morning, and Sammie wanted to take him home. Our dad said no, even after she begged him.
    I looked around our room. No dog. No boys. No nothing. Just Alicia and Sara standing around with secretive looks on their