Things Liars Fake: a Novella (a #ThreeLittleLies novella Book 3)(22)

Coming home to an empty apartment with no cat, no dog, or companionship sucks.

The twins’ squabbling interrupts my daydreaming.

“We know the ingredients aren’t cheap, Mom.” The twins emphasize the same word, and reach for the jar of tiny purple candies at the same time, too.

“Then stop wasting sprinkles,” Georgia chastises.

The twins exchange bemused glances. “But it’s fun.”

Inside the back pocket of my jeans, my phone vibrates, its chirpy little buzzing. I excuse myself to use the bathroom.



Tabitha: Hey, what are you doing today?

Me: Playing baker—making delicious, gourmet cookies.

Tabitha: Shut up. LOL. For real though, what are you doing today?

Me: Why are you laughing?! That’s what I’m doing!

Tabitha: This I gotta see; Collin’s taking Greyson to pick out their parents’ anniversary gift, then they’re going to dinner. I’m bored. Let me jump in the shower quick and I’ll be over in 20 minutes.

Tabitha: I wanna eat COOKIES!!!!

Me: NO! Don’t! I’m not home…

Tabitha: Ugh, well that sucks! So where ARE you?

Me: I’m… at Dexter’s, um… Mom’s house?

Tabitha: WHAT??? Stop it, you are not.

Me: Shit, I shouldn’t have told you.

Tabitha: Well that escalated quickly! I thought you weren’t dating! Seriously though, what the HELL ARE YOU DOING AT HIS MOM’S HOUSE BAKING COOKIES?

Me: His sisters texted me and wanted me to bake with them today—they really like me, I guess, and they’re young. What was I supposed to say???

Tabitha: Wait, is this the twins?

Me: Yeah.

Tabitha: How bout “Sorry twinsies! I might be lusting after your nerdy brother, but I’m NOT ACTUALLY DATING HIM!” There. That’s what you could say.

Me: rolling my eyes Oh, like it’s that easy.

Tabitha: Yeah, it is actually. You just type it out and hit SEND. Please tell me Dexter is there with you.

Me: Um. No. He went in to work today, but I think one of the twins texted him. They were being really weird and sneaky, giggling over their phone a few minutes ago.

Tabitha: Sexer Dexer!

Me: That nickname is worse than Sexy Dexy.

Tabitha: I still can’t believe you’re at his mom’s house. I’m literally dead over here. Dying. You have some lady balls. And also…super creepy.

Me: You told me to take him out of the friend zone!

Tabitha: Well yeah! But not like THIS!

Tabitha: Jeez Daff, the guy is going to piss his khakis when he finds you in his mom’s kitchen baking it up with his family. That guy does NOT strike me as the type that likes surprises…





I don’t like surprises.

Daphne Winthrop is the last person on Earth I expect to see when I walk into my Mom’s house. Her kitchen. And yet—there she is. Standing among the chaos, wielding a spatula and wearing the cutest f*cking shamefaced expression I’ve ever seen.

And the sexiest f*cking apron.

Stunned from shock and faltering beneath the threshold, I take in the rest of her from head to toe; long hair in a pretty little ponytail. Silver hoop earrings. Gray short sleeve tee shirt over faded skinny jeans with ripped up knees, a yellow and white polka dot apron is tied around her slim waist.

Bare feet with bubble-gum pink nails.

Those cute feet.

I stare at those pink nails dumbly until she wiggles her toes, and slowly raise my head to meet her gaze.

“Hi.” Her mouth tips into a bashful little smile.

What is she doing in my Mom’s kitchen? I mean—obviously she’s baking, but… what the hell is she doing in my mom’s kitchen?

My mom rolls her eyes. “Dex you’re being weird. Don’t just stand there gawking at the poor girl. Come in here and give her a proper hello.”

Still, I’m rooted to the spot. “What’s… going on?”

What is she doing in my Mom’s kitchen?

Mom ignores me. “Don’t be rude. And can you grab us the broom from the hall closet since you’re just standing there? Make yourself useful.”

“It’s okay Georgia,” Daphne lays the utensil on the counter next to a black wire cookie rack I’ve seen on my mom’s counter a thousand times, wipes her hands on the apron around her waist, and starts towards me. “He’s just surprised to see me, that’s all. I didn’t tell him I was coming over.”

It doesn’t escape my notice that she’s calling my mom Georgia with familiarity. My brows shoot into my hairline as Daphne reaches me, eyes sparkling with mischief. She goes up on the balls of her feet and leans in.

“Surprise?”

Her words are a light whisper right in the sensitive spot beneath my ear, the tip of her nose brushing gently against my lobe. Her warm breath rests a heartbeat too long on my skin to be accidental, and when she pulls away, I raise my hand.

“You have a little flour… right… there.” I brush it off her cheek with a slow, gentle swipe.

She bites her lower lip demurely. “I haven’t greeted you properly, have I?” Her soft lips connect to my jaw line the briefest of seconds; so quickly I might have imagined it.

“Hi.”

Confused as shit but smiling like an idiot, I finally return her greeting. “Hi.”