Alexis and the Perfect Recipe Read Online Free Page B

heart of hearts that it would not be a good thing for Emma to find out that I had—yes, I had to admit it to myself after today’s noninteraction in the hall—a major crush on her brother.
    â€œOh! It’s supposed to be at my house, but my mom asked if we could move it because she’s having a dinner party tonight,” said Mia. “She doesn’t want the kitchen all messed up. I’m so sorry!”
    Katie spoke up. “We can’t do it at my house either because my grandma is visiting and she will, like, take over if we have it there. I love her, but it’s just a little annoying.”
    Here was an opportunity! I had to think fast. “Oh, bummer! I think Dylan has her study group at our house on Tuesdays . . .” I started to say. Didn’t she? Yikes. I’d better check or risk getting caught in a lie. We all looked hopefully at Emma.
    Emma sighed. “Fine, we can do it at my house again,” she said. “I just think it’s so boring and gross. I’d so much rather be at someone else’s house where it’s quiet and clean and private! Anyway, Jake might be there.”
    Jake was Emma’s little brother, and he could be a bit of a bother.
    â€œThanks, Emma!” I said. I think I sounded a little too gushing, because she gave me another funny look.
    â€œOkay, not a big deal,” she said.
    â€œRight!” I agreed, trying to stop myself from smiling too broadly. Tonight I might have another Matt encounter.
    And then my heart stopped as I spotted Matt walk into the cafeteria with a group of guys. I could feel my face growing warm, so I quickly looked down at my lunch tray, hoping no one noticed. There was no way he’d come over here, I told myself. But if he did . . .
    I reached up and pulled the elastic band out of my hair, casually fluffing my hair and rolling the elastic band onto my wrist. If Matt stopped by, he wouldn’t see the skirt, but the hair might be quantifiable.
    I watched as he went through the line, and half listened to Emma’s summer plans. Suddenly Matt gestured to his friends and began making a beeline toward our table! My mind said “Oh no!” and “Oh yes!” at the same time I quickly sat up and tucked a piece of hair behind my ear. My stomach starteddoing flip-flops—and then he was next to me!
    â€œHey, guys,” he said.
    â€œHi,” I squeaked. He looked down and smiled!
    â€œEmma,” he continued, “Mom asked me to watch Jake on Thursday night, but I just got assigned a group project due Friday. Any chance you can watch Jake and I’ll owe you?”
    Emma frowned. “I guess so. But it has to be a date of my choice!”
    â€œFine. Thanks!” he said, and ruffled her hair before taking off.
    Emma rolled her eyes. “Brothers,” she muttered.
    I was thrilled! He had acknowledged me! He had said hi first (sort of!). I couldn’t wait to get home and log all this info into my notebook: Score one for “hair down,” and none for “skirts.” (Whew!)
    Now I just had to wait and see if Matt would be at home later today.

CHAPTER 5
    Collecting Data
    W e all arrived at Emma’s after school only to find that it was definitely not an option to hold a club meeting there. Emma’s mom was having coffee with a friend, and Jake had three little friends over. They had turned the kitchen into a “goo factory,” where they were experimenting with every kind of oobleck and gunk that could be created from basic household ingredients.
    4 little boys + gooey gunk = total mess
    What was amazing was that Emma’s mom didn’t seem bothered by the mess. My mother would haveneeded serious CPR if that was going on in her kitchen!
    But Emma wasn’t pleased.
    After I said a quick hi to Emma’s mom, I casually (as casually as I could) walked out to the TV room, but no one was there. I went back to the mudroom to