Page 17 of The Stalker Snafu

But I took a deep breath, remembering all the times I’d watched Baking with Babushka and seen my favorite Russian grandma crack an egg against the counter for her cooking show. I gave it a shot.

Tap.

Not a single crack appeared on the egg.

I forced a tight smile at the crowd before tapping the egg a little harder.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Crunch.

The shell caved in on itself from the increasing force of my desperation, and egg entrails spilled out over my fingers and the stool. I cringed at the cold sliminess and held out the crushed remains to a waiting Finn.

He beamed, nodding toward the mess.

“Look inside,” he urged me, entirely too excited about a cracked egg.

I frowned but took a closer look at the egg. My breath caught. A small ornate gold key sat inside the ruined shell, swimming in the last bits of yolk. My mind couldn’t even begin to understand how Finn had gotten a key inside an egg without cracking it, but the more pressing matter was the egg innards running through my fingers.

“You couldn’t take the yolk out when you put the key in?” I asked him dryly.

“It’s magic,” he defended, plucking the key free and presenting it to the eagerly watching crowd. “Fellow magicians, we’ve found quite the prize! But there’s only one person here worthy enough to use The Enchanted Key…”

Kids scooted to the edge of their seats, and I found myself leaning closer as well, egg innards forgotten. What made one worthy?

“Only a person born on this very day can wield this key,” Finn continued as I fought not to shake my head. “Is the birthday girl present?”

“That’s me! I’m here!” One of the munchkins popped up from her chair, and it was immediately evident we’d found the birthday girl. Clad in a pink cupcake dress, she even had a matching pink tiara that sparkled in the carnival lights.

She ran up to the stage, her blonde ringlets bouncing from all the excitement before she stopped next to Finn with a wide smile.

“I believe this belongs to you, Princess Mia,” Finn said with a bow. He placed the key in her waiting palm and pointed toward the hulking cabinet, raising his voice. “Mind helping a magician out and opening the Cabinet of Wonders? A good source told me your present is stuck inside.”

The girl was more than happy to help a handsome magician, and she practically vibrated on the spot while sticking the key into the lock. I braced myself as the doors popped open—I wouldn’t be surprised if a pony came clopping out—but instead, a massive pink dollhouse sat inside.

Mia screeched in delight, threatening to burst my eardrums as her friends shared their own equally loud enthusiasm.

How could bodies so small make enough noise to split my head in two?

“All right, that ends our magic show for tonight, folks!” Finn waved to the gathered crowd as Mia drooled over her new dollhouse. A man who I guessed was her father hopped onto the stage and helped her roll the table the dollhouse was on out from the cabinet and take it into the yard. A doll-sized carriage sat behind the small mansion. “Thanks for coming out to celebrate Her Royal Highness’s birthday and help me bring magic to the backyard. A special thanks to Cupcake and Princess Mia for assisting with the final trick. Have a good night!”

The crowd clapped, but most kids were already getting a closer look at the dollhouse or moving on to the next shiny thing at the party. Half of them led a charge toward the carousel.

Before I knew it, it was just me and Finn left under the tent.

“Are you hanging out for the rest of the party?” I asked, mostly curious but also a little concerned about him running into Mr. Everton.

Finn shook his head. “Can’t stay long. I have a hot date tonight.”

My stomach dropped. A date. He had a date. I opened and closed my mouth, trying to find words, because I couldn’t just not say anything. But what was I supposed to say?

“A date?” I echoed, figuring a question was safe.

My attempt to sound casual completely failed, and a wide grin split Finn’s cheeks.

“With a surfboard,” he added cheekily, slipping both hands into his pockets as his grin widened. “Don’t worry, Cupcake. You know you’re the only girl for me.”

Blood rushed to my cheeks, but the relief that filled my chest at knowing he wasn’t actually seeing someone was entirely unhealthy. It made no sense.