Secrets of the Sisterhood (The Cinderella Society, Episode 1) by Kay Cassidy Page B

with a flourish. “Strength in numbers, honey,” she said before moving back to the counter.
    Sarah Jane sat motionless, still in shock over the number fourteen. Kyra and Mel came in, and Sarah Jane waved them over. Kyra motioned toward the counter first, and she and Mel went to grab drinks of their own.
    By the time they got to our table, Kyra’s expression matched Sarah Jane’s.
    “Fourteen?” she asked Sarah Jane quietly. “How did we miss that?”
    Sarah Jane shook her head. “I don’t know, but we’ll have to pass it along.”
    I was about to ask, “Fourteen what?” again, figuring Sarah Jane would realize it was rude to keep talking in cryptics, when two hunky seniors arrived on the scene. Mark Evans and Ben Harper came strolling in, looking divine in polos and cargo shorts. Just like that, the atmosphere went from gloom and doom to razzle dazzle.
    The guys pulled up chairs next to their respective girlfriends, Mark by Sarah Jane and Ben by Kyra. Sarah Jane made introductions for Mel and me, and the conversation shifted to finals-week war stories. Until Ben looked over at the door and yelled, “Steele!”
    We all turned, and there in the flesh—the very fine flesh—was Captain Yumtastic himself. Ryan lifted his chin in greeting and headed our way. The guys exchanged a fancy testosterone handshake before turning to the girls. My heart stopped as I saw recognition dawn on his face.
    “So you made it?” A smile lit his eyes. “I thought that might be the last we saw of Jess Parker.”
    “Yeah,” I said, trying to think of a witty comeback. Instead, all I could think was how he actually knew my full name and how white his teeth were up close, so nothing else came out. Just “yeah.”  
    He turned his attention back to the rest of the group and joined in the conversation about the party at Nick Case’s last night. I refrained from kicking myself under the table.
    I tried to look casual and cool, but there was no escaping reality. For someone who was totally at ease with adults—thanks to years of working with them on volunteer stuff—I was pretty awkward with people my own age. Especially guys. I might be a Sister, but I had miles to go before I’d ever blend with Sarah Jane’s crowd.
    When the guys finally stood to go, Mark gave Sarah Jane a peck on the cheek. “What’s your plan today?”
    “Hanging out with the girls,” she said. “Maybe working on some cheers.”
    What?! Noooo! Sarah Jane had promised we’d spend the afternoon working on my ultimate life makeover stuff, not test-drive new material for . . .
    Oh.
    So discretion meant no boyfriends either. Interesting.
    Ben gave Kyra a quick kiss—earning both couples brownie points for low-key PDAs—and the guys headed toward the door. It wasn’t until Sarah Jane stifled a laugh that I realized I was wearing the most blatant puppy-dog expression.
    “Ryan?” she asked.
    My face went from pasty to scarlet in two seconds flat. “I didn’t know he’d be here.”
    “They travel in herds, but that’s a story for another day.” She looked around the table, a glint in her eye. “Right now, we’ve got work to do.”

Chapter Nine

    When you’re about to enter the mysterious world of a secret society, back toward the café bathrooms and through the employee entrance probably isn’t the first place you’d expect to go.
    Sarah Jane paused to make a call from the pay phone in the employee hall, but she didn’t actually talk to anyone, as far as I could tell. She swiped a credit card-looking thing and punched in some numbers before we heard a buzz and click from the door marked management only. We followed her through that door into another hallway . . . and another . . . burrowing deeper into the heart of the building. the Grind must’ve been built around a maze.
    I wondered if I should leave a trail of bread crumbs. Which made me hungry, since between Audrey’s presence, the number fourteen, and three very distracting hotties, we’d