Page 33 of Merry Mayhem
Wearegoing to figure out what this is.
But not right now. Not in the middle of Main Street, where the entire town has seemingly gathered.
Still, I’m staying at her house this weekend. It sounds like we’ll be spending most of the weekend together. This is going to be even better than just a nice distraction from my holiday melancholy.
Right in the middle of the street, which is shut down from traffic, is a stage where Nora Delaune herself is presiding over the sign-up for Merry Mayhem. She doesn’t look smug or frazzled. She looks like she’s having the time of her life as she hands out clipboards to the people in front of her.
I climb the six steps behind Thea.
“Thea!” Nora exclaims, bouncing to her feet. “What are you doing here?”
“Hey, honey.” Thea leans over the table to hug Nora. “I’m here to sign up.”
Nora audibly gasps. “You’re doing Merry Mayhem?” She’s clearly delighted by this idea.
“I am. In Violet’s place.”
Nora’s very expressive face immediately falls. “Oh my gosh, I went up to see her. She actually looks pretty good. I mean, for someone who’s in a coma.”
“She’s going to be okay,” I feel the need to insert.
Nora turns wide, interested eyes to me. “That’s what the nurses told me.”
“Nora, this is Josh Evans. He’s Violet’s…b…boyfriend.”
I definitely notice the way she stumbles over that. Interesting.
“They were going to do Merry Mayhem together, and I’m taking her place,” Thea finishes.
Nora’s smile is bright and quick. “Oh wow, Josh, it’s so nice to meet you. You’re the one she went to the wedding with.”
How to answer, but not lie? “That wedding was wild,” I say. There. I didn’t say yes. And that wedding did sound wild.
“Well, I’m so glad you’re both doing this. Violet would be thrilled. She loves Merry Mayhem.” Nora says it with a touch of pride.
“It was almost all she could talk about the other night,” I say, again able to be honest.
Nora looks pleased. “Sheisthe reigning champion.” Then she frowns. “Sam has already signed in.” She tilts her head to her left.
“Tall guy in the blue shirt,” Thea fills in for me.
I spot him immediately. Sam is tall. Probably about six-three. His light brown hair is cropped short, and he’s dressed in jeans, tennis shoes, and a long-sleeve T-shirt. The woman next to him, who I’m going to assume is Ashley, the new girlfriend, is very pretty. And also nearly the opposite of Violet in appearance in every way. She’s curvy and at least five inches taller than thepetite Violet. She’s wearing bright red pants with a forest green sweater, and her short blonde hair falls in spiral curls to her shoulders.
“We can totally take them,” I say to Thea.
I have no idea if that’s true. These two could be secret ninja warriors.
“Oh, a rivalry,” Nora says. “I love it.”
Thea bends over the sign-up form and starts filling in blanks. “Do I get a family favor and a promise that you won’t make us do anything before nine a.m.?” she asks.
Nora laughs as if she’s joking.
I’m going to take that as a no.
Thea moves to the side. “Here, fill in your information,” she says, sliding the clipboard to me.
I bend over the form, curious what information they need. First, it’s the standard name and telephone number. The form explains that it needs to be a number where they can text me and where I’ll be checking messages regularly. I presume for the surprise challenges.
