“You’re not listening,” Scarlett said. “The only time Marlene feels bad about missing me is when she’s thrown something at me.”

Lola laughed one of her oh-Scarlett-what-a-wit-you-are-but-I-have-no-idea-what-you-are-talking-about laughs.

Spencer was looking intently over both of his sisters, into the depths of the restaurant.

“Lola…” he said.

“You just need to give Marlene a chance,” Lola was rambling on.

“Lola…” Spencer repeated, and this time, his voice was a warning.

Scarlett immediately saw the cause of his concern. Someone was coming toward them. They had been led into a trap.

DINNER IS ALSO FOR SUCKERS

Coming at them through the melee of waiters and bright yellow chairs and blue tables and guacamole carts was Chip Sutcliffe, Lola’s ex-boyfriend.

“I didn’t do this,” Lola said quickly. “I swear.”

Scarlett believed her. Lola’s constant, unfailing composure completely fell away for a moment, and she backed up gracelessly into a dark corner by the host stand, bumping her head into a low-hanging piñata of a yellow cab.

“So this is a coincidence?” Spencer asked. “We just stumbled on Chip while he was on a mad, lonely hunt for tacos?”

Lola shook her head in confusion.

Chip paused in his progress and stood by a large cactus, prodding it gently with one outstretched finger. Marlene had his other hand and was tugging him along, trying to force him onward.

“I told you,” Scarlett said, pointing. “I told you.” She was glad to have her worst suspicions vindicated—Marlene had been up to something. There was nothing quite like the sweet, sweet nectar of being right.

“You have to be kidding me,” Spencer said. “You told me you were taking us out.”

“I was covering for Marlene,” Lola said, flustered. “She wanted it to be a surprise.”

“How the hell would Marlene be able to afford this?”

“You know how she gets stuff through Powerkids. I figured she had a gift certificate or something and was sharing it. She gets all kinds of things. I didn’t know!”

“So what do we do now?” Scarlett asked. “Want to have family dinner night with your ex?”

“Well, we can’t leave,” Lola said.

“Why?” Spencer asked.

“We’re here for Marlene,” Lola said.

“If Marlene wants to have dinner with Chip, let her have dinner with Chip.”

Something very strange had come over Scarlett’s older sister. There was a totally foreign blush to her paper-white cheeks, and she was rocking a bit on her low heels.

“Don’t leave me,” she said, clutching them both by an arm. “Please. Don’t leave me. Tomorrow, he’s gone. He goes to Boston for school. You won’t have to deal with him anymore.”

“I thought the day you broke up with him was the day I didn’t have to deal with him anymore,” Spencer said, looking at the tiny, pale hand that gripped his wrist.

“You weren’t that picky on the day he saved your show. You owe him.”