Gypsy - Book 3 of The Academy Kids Series

Mchottie x3

Two days later my mind still circled around the McHottie mystery. I could feel the answer on the tip of my tongue but I just couldn't quite reach it and I was going crazy trying to figure it out. I texted and called Chase at all hours trying to work through it. Thankfully it was Christmas break.

Now though, I needed to concentrate on grocery shopping or we weren't going to eat. I'd already needed to go back six times because I forgot something. I really hoped I didn't have to go back again, getting out of the checkout line wasn't exactly fun.

"Gypsy?"

I froze as a shiver ran down my spine. Glancing behind me my gaze collided with McHottie, then slid to the basket hanging from his arm. I tried to hold back a giggle but it escaped anyway.

"Stocking up?" The amount of sugar and junk food in his basket could keep a dentist in business for a year. I looked him over noting the perfectly put together outfit, bright blue eyes and slender build. He grinned and blushed.

"It's not all for me," he said. "You're lookin' good." His gaze roamed over me and it was my turn to blush. I tried to get my brain to kick in and gather clues but it checked out again, until I remembered our last encounter.

"You never explained about Stacey." I really wanted to know who that nutty girl was to him. He'd said it wasn't his ex but it sure seemed like it from the way she'd talked.

McHottie went white. "Stacey? When did you meet Stacey?"

Was he serious?

"Two days ago, the fountain where we first met, you told her off after she practically attacked me." I didn't think it was possible for his face to pale any further. Just then the girl from the park strolled up and dumped several bags of chips into the basket dangling limply from McHottie's arm. He glanced over, dropped the basket to the side and grabbed her arm, dragging her to the door.

"Come on, KD. I gotta find Micah."

Well, shit.

I went through the checkout and dropped the groceries at home, my mind mulling over the new additions to the McHottie mystery. Chase waited for me at my house and we headed out again. We were going to Toys'r'Us to spend what we'd earned and drop the toys in the Toys for Tots bin.

"Okay, what's eating you?" Chase asked when we were on our way.

"Ran into McHottie at the store."

"And your brain is still nonfunctional?"

I smacked him. "Jerk. My brain is fine. I asked him about Stacey."

"And? Geez girl, you're killin' me."

"Chase, he had no clue what I was talking about. Then he took off like his butt was on fire."

Chase was silent as I parked the truck I'd borrowed from Johnny and we headed inside. I didn't know what to say about the whole thing. Little bells were going off in my brain, connections being made as I thought it all over, but I was past the point of talking it out. I need to just let my brain work on it for a while.

Instead I focused on picking awesome toys for kids. I knew what it was like for money to be tight, to wonder if Santa would make it. Things hadn't always been easy in the Cross house. My mom had been a dance instructor and my dad worked construction. When mom died, my dad kind of fell apart for a while. Local charities and food pantries were a godsend at the time and I firmly believed in giving back.

We cruised the aisles, joking around, picking toys, getting into a stuffed animal fight. We ducked around the corner of the aisle when an employee glared at us for that one. Giggling, I glanced down the aisle and quit breathing.