Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert

Author:Talia Hibbert [Hibbert, Talia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2023-01-03T00:00:00+00:00

Aurora: it’s basically the only thing I’m good at

Celine: ??? wrong

Aurora: okay maybe not

Aurora: more like

Aurora: it’s the only thing I CARE about being good at.

Well, I care most about law. I always have. So there’s no reason for this weird, sloshing uncertainty in my stomach whenever I think about my glittering, corporate, take-over-Dad’s-business-and-ruin-his-life future. I turn my back on pointless anxieties and snuggle deeper into my pillow, scrolling through TikTok and saving all the best sounds.

It’s December, and I’m planning a theme: Christmas Conspiracies. Santa Claus sightings, capitalist manipulations of the workforce during the holidays, and anything else slightly bonkers and compelling and festive I can think of. I already feel my stress levels sinking. Who needs candy cane–scented candles when there’s social media chaos?

A knock sounds at my bedroom door. “Hey,” Giselle says. “How’s it going?”

“Fine.” I flash my sister a smile and switch over to my Notes app, typing out a potential idea about hot chocolate, lactose intolerance, and Santa’s nefarious intentions. “What about you? How was work?” She’s a crew member at McDonald’s because, apparently, shift work suits her “creative cycle” better than a nine to five.

“Ugh. They’re still refusing to put me in the kitchen. But you have such a pretty smile, Giselle!” she mimics, flopping onto my bed like a dying swan. Her never-ending arms knock my snuggly crocheted mushroom off his favorite pillow.

“Oi,” I say, reaching over to restore him to his rightful throne. “Watch it.”

“Don’t shout at me, Celine. I’m nursing wounds of the soul. If one more football hooligan comes waltzing out of the Forest stadium to take out his pent-up aggression on me…” Her elegant features screw into an expression that can only be described as murderous. Combined with the smooth curve of her newly shaved head, she looks like a vengeful spirit crossed with Alek Wek. “Well, they’ll learn.” She sighs and changes the subject. “So, I read your leaflet.”

This means nothing because I collect all kinds of leaflets. How are you supposed to learn about the different opportunities in the world if you don’t comb over the appropriate literature? “Mmm-hmm?” I murmur, turning the sound down on my phone and scrolling through a few more videos.

“Did you know Dad’s firm is partly sponsoring this Katharine Breakspeare thing?”

I drop the phone. It smacks me in the nose. “Shit.”

“Smooth,” she says.

“What? No. I…er…” My face hurts, which apparently inhibits my ability to lie. I rub my nose and give up. “How did you even find it?”

“Find what?” she asks. “Oh, you mean the leaflet you hid behind your bedside table? I just came into your room and thought, ‘Giselle, if you were a shady little shit, where would you put your illicit materials?’ And then I poked around.”

“So you went through my stuff.”

“I went through your dust and lies, yes,” Giselle says brightly. Then she sits up, settling against my cushions as if she’s planning to be here for a long time.

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