Suzy P and the Trouble with Three Read Online Free PDF Page B

because she’s English, she’s just been living in Italy for ages,” I explain. “But Caro – that’s her mum – is moving back because of the divorce. It’s all been getting a bit full-on so she’s sending Isabella back over early to come and stay with us. Says she needs to take some time out to relax or something.”
    Everyone bursts out laughing.
    “I know, it’s bonkers,” I say. “Dad’s stressy about money, Mum’s obsessed with babies, Amber’s pregnant, and Harry will probably try to saw her in half within an hour of her arriving. Our house is about as relaxing as a war zone.”
    “Hey,” Danny protests. “Your family’s not that bad.”
    Danny is crazily protective of my family. Everyone can see they’re stark raving loonies except Danny, who thinks they’re merely eccentric. He’s an only child who lives with his dad, so I think he has sibling envy.
    Plus, he doesn’t have to flipping live with them.
    “You’re seriously deluded,” I say. “Would you want to spend a fortnight with us? Really?”
    “Good point,” Danny says. “Two weeks
is
quite a long time.”
    “Are we going to get to meet her?” Jamie asks. “Is she going to come and hang out with us?”
    “I guess,” I say.
    “Then let’s hope she’s nice,” Danny says. “And that she likes hanging out in Bojangles, because I predict it’s where we’ll spend most of our summer. Especially if the weather doesn’t improve.”
    “Mmmm, Bojangles hot chocolate with whipped cream and marshmallows,” I say dreamily, reaching my hand out to push open the café door.
    Bojangles is one of my favourite places in the world. They serve the best hot chocolate and cake I’ve
ever
tasted. I often go to sleep dreaming of it, that’s how good it is. The only benefit to this cold and rainy summer is that I can keep drinking my favourite bevvy.
    “Hi, guys,” says Hannah, Bojangles’ new owner, from behind the counter.
    When Bojangles went up for sale recently we were all dead worried, wondering how things were going to be different. It was a huge relief to find out that Hannah’s lovely and she hasn’t changed the place at all.
    We nab our favourite table, the one in the window.
    Jamie and Danny grab the menus, but I don’t know why because we’re here all the time and know everything they serve. I know exactly what I’m going to have. Hot chocolatewith cream and marshmallows, and a slice of Death by Chocolate cake.
    I’m reaching down to get my bag when I remember I’ve not got much money left. Less than a fiver, after the bus ride of shame yesterday and a magazine I had to pay Mum back for.
    I open my purse, hoping a twenty pound note will have magically appeared, but nope. There’s only a couple of quid and a handful of coppers. Rats. That’s not even enough for a hot chocolate.
    “What can I get you?” Hannah says, appearing at the table with a pen poised over her notebook.
    I let everyone else place their orders first.
    “Suzy?” Hannah says.
    “Um, a glass of water, please,” I mumble.
    “Is that all?” Hannah says.
    “I thought you’d been dreaming about a hot chocolate?” Danny says. “With cream and marshmallows?”
    “Yeah, um, I changed my mind,” I shrug, trying to look all casual.
    “Liar,” Danny says. “Did you forget your purse again?”
    “Nope, it’s here,” I say, showing him. “I’m, uh, a bit broke.”
    “I’ll treat you,” Jamie says. His parents run their owndesign business and are never around, the lucky so and so. They buy Jamie’s affection to alleviate their guilt at never seeing him (that’s what he says, anyway) so Jamie’s always loaded. Fortunately, he’s really generous and never minds sharing his cash. “Do you want that hot chocolate?”
    “Are you sure?” I ask
    “Course,” Jamie says.
    “And you can share my cake,” Danny says. “See what sacrifices I’m prepared to make for you?”
    “I appreciate it greatly,” I say solemnly. “Thanks,