Read Death of a Cupcake Queen for Free Online Page A

Nykki.”
    â€œWorks for me,” Sabrina said.
    â€œPerfect. You’re a doll, Ivy,” Nykki said. “I think this was all incredibly productive. Let’s reconnoiter later tonight and dole out specific tasks.”
    As the three of them hustled for the door, Hayley called after them. “Wait. What about Nigel? He’s still out walking the dogs.”
    â€œOh, don’t worry about him,” Ivy said, rolling her eyes. “He can walk home.”
    â€œBut your rental is like seven miles outside of town.”
    That didn’t really seem to be an issue with Ivy.
    â€œOkay. Well, don’t worry,” Hayley said. “Liddy and I can just wait here and give him a lift back to the rental house when he gets back.”
    â€œAbsolutely not,” Ivy said, shaking her head. “Nigel’s getting fat around the middle, it’s like he’s wearing a Michelin tire. He needs the exercise so don’t you dare!”
    It was clear to Hayley that she was no longer on the receiving end of Ivy’s cruel streak like she was in high school.
    The new target was her husband.

Chapter 6
    â€œYou know, seeing Nykki and Ivy reunited with their queen bee Sabrina after all these years wasn’t really what I expected,” Liddy said, gripping the wheel of her Mercedes as she drove Hayley home.
    â€œNot as bad as you thought?”
    â€œNo. Worse!”
    â€œOh, come on, Liddy. I think it’s safe to say they’ve all mellowed just a little bit,” Hayley said, not really believing her own words.
    â€œWere you in the same room as I was?” Liddy asked incredulously as she whipped her head around to look at Hayley.
    â€œKeep your eyes on the road!” Hayley yelled as she watched the Mercedes slowly drift over the yellow center dividing line into the opposite lane.
    Liddy jerked the wheel back to the left and shook her head. “Once a nasty bitch always a nasty bitch. If that walking demon seed Nykki thinks she’s going to encroach on my territory, I will fight her to the death!”
    â€œYou have to admit, Sabrina has calmed down a lot since high school. I mean, she’s been through two painful divorces, and since leaving her job as county coroner, she’s definitely not as manic and career obsessed.”
    â€œWhy are you cutting her so much slack?”
    â€œBecause it’s not healthy to hold a grudge. I’m practicing forgiveness.”
    â€œWell, stop it! It’s irritating! Have you forgotten how they treated you in high school? How awful they were to you?”
    â€œOf course not. But it’s been twenty years. I think it’s time to let all that go and just put it behind me.”
    â€œThey despised Mona and me but mostly ignored us. Which was fine by us. But you, they especially had it out for you. At least with us, they didn’t pretend to like us. They’d string you along and make you believe you were part of their clique and then without warning they’d just freeze you out and make you feel like nothing!”
    â€œWhat part of putting this behind me didn’t resonate with you?”
    â€œRemember that night the summer after graduation? It was the weekend after Fourth of July and Mona went on a fishing trip with her Dad and I flew to New York with my mother to meet my college roommate in the fall, and you were left to your own devices and once again fell into their trap?”
    Hayley did remember.
    In fact, it was impossible to forget.
    July 1995.
    Hayley stood in front of the bathroom mirror staring at the unsightly pimple hovering just above her upper lip.
    Maybe it was a cold sore she got from making out with Mark Peterman during Senior Skip Day.
    Oh God.
    Why isn’t it going away?
    She resisted the urge to pop it.
    Her dermatologist forbade her to ever try ridding her face of a zit using that method. He warned her it would only grow back. Twice the size as before. Maybe he was just trying