Read Online A Good Excuse To Be Bad by Miranda Parker - Free Book Online Page A

rang. I looked at it. It was Justus. I smiled.
    Whitney returned to the room with the other cordless phone on her right ear and a grin on her face. “Hold on, Justus. She’s right here . . .”
    She stood beside me, muted the phone, then elbowed me without dropping any of the tools in her arms. “Why didn’t you tell me Justus was here today?”
    â€œBecause I didn’t have time to. Plus, Ava’s disappearing acts almost blew my night with Justus.
    â€œYour night?” She grabbed me by my pajama top. “Did y’all go on a date? And you didn’t tell me?”
    â€œNo, technically no. He brought dinner here.”
    â€œShut the front door,” Whitney squealed. “And now he’s making a booty call.”
    I snatched the phone from her. “He’s a minister. You can’t say stuff like that.”
    â€œHmm . . .” She pursed her lips. “He’s a man, ain’t he?”
    â€œGirl, get a grip. He is a man, not one of your wang-ster boy toys.”
    â€œWhatever.” She looked at the phone. “I bet you five dollars he’s waiting on the phone.”
    I frowned. “And what would be the point of this bet?”
    â€œAs long as we’ve been talking . . . if he’s still holding on, he wants more than just to talk with you.” She giggled. “Ooh. Why would he want you at one in the morning? You know what that means? He wants you for life, wifey.” She laughed louder.
    â€œStop it. Please get that thought out of your head.” I checked the phone to see if he was holding. “It probably has something to do with his niece. He came over here today to convince me to work for him. Apparently, some mysterious Romeo has her nose wide open. The child probably snuck out the house tonight.”
    â€œTtttt.” Whitney shook her head as she dumped a steel chain and two hammers in a duffle bag. “Been there, done that.”
    I plopped myself back on her bed. “I can’t help him right now.”
    â€œSo what are you going to do?”
    â€œTell him the truth.” I lifted the receiver and unmuted the call. “Hello, Justus. Is something wrong?”
    â€œEverything is fine. Actually, I’m calling to find out if you’re okay. I heard you screaming.”
    â€œHow did you hear me? Are you outside my house again?”
    â€œNo, not exactly. I needed to take a jog.” He chuckled. “For some reason, I couldn’t sleep. Why are you awake? Is it because of Ava?”
    â€œAre you psychic, too?”
    â€œNo, but I saw someone that resembled you back out of your driveway in the same nice car I noticed parked in it when I dropped by earlier today.”
    â€œOh, yes.” I shook my head. “Yes, you did. How is Kelly, by the way?”
    â€œShe’s fine. She just got home. From where, I have no clue.”
    â€œYou gotta be kidding me.”
    â€œNo, I wouldn’t kid about the real reason I’m jogging around the neighborhood at one in the morning.” He huffed. “I needed to burn off some steam before I returned home.”
    â€œI’m sorry.” Whitney knelt beside me and leaned her head on the other side of the receiver. I rolled my eyes at her. “I know how taxing family can be.”
    â€œI’m scared for Kelly, and that makes me feel helpless,” he said.
    â€œAgain, I know exactly how you feel, but I can’t talk. I have to see about Ava. Something is horribly wrong.”
    Whitney tapped my shoulder. “We need to get to Decatur before something else bad happens to Ava.”
    â€œYou’re right. I do,” I said to Whitney, then stood up.
    â€œWhat do you mean?” Justus asked. “Where are you going?”
    I waved Whitney off again. “I’m going to Ava’s home, to see if she’s okay.”
    â€œNo, we all are,” Whitney shouted.
    I turned to Whitney. “What did I tell