Baby & Bump (The This & That Series) Read Online Free PDF Page B

closed his eyes. “But I’m thirty-five now. Don’t you think I’m old enough to be trusted with the sacred family recipes?”
                  Andrea nodded. “Like the pumpkin cheesecake recipe.”
                  I pointed my fork at my mother. “And the potato salad.”
                  Darren stopped shoveling food into his mouth, and looked up from his bowl. “And the finger jello.”
                  Corbin stared at him. “Of all of Mom’s recipes, you want the one for finger jello?”
                  “Finger jello is awesome.” Darren wiggled his eyebrows. “Jello shots, dude.”
                  Rolling my eyes, I went back to my soup. “You’re a child.”
                  “No, I’m not.” He shoved another bite in. “A child cannot legally drink. I, on the other hand, can .” Darren focused his attention on me. “Why are you acting so old, anyway, Lex? It’s not like you’ve got all these responsibilities to keep you home. You should come out with me and Pandi sometime. Do a few shots yourself and loosen up.”
                  “I don’t need to loosen up.” I put my spoon down slowly. My stomach had turned into merry-go-round. Good Lord, was I ever going to be able to eat a meal without wanting to yak again?
                  “Yes, you do.” Darren laughed. “You’re wound tight. Seriously, come out with me this weekend. My friend, Spoons, thinks you’re cute.”
                  “Spoons?” Andrea chuckled. “Do I even want to know where someone gets the nickname of Spoons ?”
                  Corbin choked on his soup. “I say go for it, Lex. Go out with Spoons, and let Pandi and Darren show you a good time.”
                  “Do you have any friends with normal names?” I asked my little brother, who’d pulled his phone out again, and was texting under the table.
                  “Yes,” he said. “Barry. Joe. Axel. Rosco.”
                  Corbin, Andrea, and I all dissolved into giggles, and my mom just shook her head. “Your friends have terrible names,” she sighed. “Lexie, did you know that Andrea and Corbin bought a new house to flip on the South Hill?”
                  The South Hill was one of Spokane’s most coveted neighborhoods. With its hills, mature pine and maple trees lining the center of the roads in between the lanes, and turn of the century homes, I’d been dreaming about living there for years. “Really?” I asked, pushing my bowl back. “No kidding, guys? Where at?”
                  Corbin squeezed his wife’s hand. “It’s on Elm, and it is completely made of brick, with paned windows and a tiny courtyard out front.”
                  “It’s gorgeous. Apparently the owner died five years ago, and it’s been empty ever since. His children finally decided to sell, since it’s gone into such disrepair.” Andrea grinned.
    She and Corbin’s reputation in the world of real estate around these parts was impressive, to say the least. The local realtors loved telling their buyers that they were selling a “Baump Home.” The name was synonymous with exceptional quality and high-end finishings. No corners cut by Corbin and Andrea. They took pride in their work, and it showed.
                  “We’re going to bring it back to life.” Corbin nodded affirmatively. “The plan is to have it done in three or four months. Why don’t you buy it, Lex? That should be enough time for you to put in notice at your apartment and arrange for financing.”
                  “It’s the perfect house for you.” Andrea helped herself to more soup. “It’s a buyers’ market right now, you know.”
                  My mother laughed breezily. “What? You want Alexandria to buy a house? On her own?