Liar Liar Read Free Page B

Dance music blasted from the big speakers on the roof of the pool house.
    In the center of the terrace a man in a white jacket stood behind a table, making tacos. I glimpsed Max’s parents sitting with some other adults away from everyone near the back of the house.
    Wild splashing. Shouts. Loud laughter.
    I saw a vicious splashing battle at one end of the pool. Some poor guy was being splashed by four or five girls, who were really into it.
    Across from them a pool noodle war was taking place. Guys were smashing each other with pool noodles, beating each other, slapping backs and shoulders and heads. Thwack. Thwaaack. Smaaaack .
    Two pool noodles cracked in half, and everyone laughed like crazy.
    â€œHey, Ross!” Max came hurrying over, carrying a can of soda in one hand and a taco in the other.
    Max is big. Big arms, big chest. He looks like a jock, but he isn’t into sports at all.
    He has short, spiky brown hair, and big brown eyes, and a grin that spreads over his entire face. And the girls all think he’s one big puppy dog.
    He was dripping wet. He’d just climbed out of the pool. He was wearing denim cutoffs, soaked to his skin. He had spilled some taco meat on his chest.
    â€œRoss, I didn’t think you were coming, man.” He tried to flash me a thumbs-up and nearly dropped his taco.
    â€œHey, it’s a party—right?” I replied. “So I’m here.”
    He chewed off a hunk of taco. “I heard you were grounded for life or something.”
    â€œNo way!” I protested.
    â€œThat’s what your brother said.”
    â€œHe’s crazy,” I told Max. “Why would I be grounded?”
    I saw Cindy jump up from a chair at the edge of the pool. She wore a white two-piece swimsuit. Her black hair bobbed behind her as she ran across the terrace toward me. “Hey, Ross—where were you?”
    â€œHi,” I flashed her my best smile. “How’s it going?”
    â€œYou’re an hour late,” she boomed, crossing her arms in front of her. “What happened?”
    â€œWell …” I thought hard.
    â€œIt was my brother,” I said. “Jake wasn’t feeling well. He was kind of sick. So I wanted to stay home and cheer him up. You know. Read him a few books. Play some games. I guess I lost track of the time.”
    Cindy’s stern expression faded. “That was really nice of you,” she said softly.
    â€œWell, he’s my only brother, you know. I try to take good care of him.”
    Over Cindy’s shoulder, I saw Sharma waving frantically to me from the deep end of the pool.
    â€œI’m starving,” Cindy said. “Those tacos look really good. But I waited for you to get here.” She started pulling me towards the food table.
    â€œUh … go get yourself one,” I said. “I’ll meet you over there in a sec. I just want to drop my bag somewhere.”
    She hurried to the taco guy, and I jogged around the pool to Sharma. “Hey—what’s up?”
    She narrowed her eyes at me. “Where have you been?”
    I told her the same story about staying home to cheer up my brother. She ate it up, too.
    â€œWhat were you talking to Cindy about?” she asked.
    A Frisbee came flying out of the pool. I grabbed it and tossed it back. “Oh. Just something about school,” I said.
    â€œWant to get some tacos?” Sharma asked.
    I looked across the pool and saw Cindy waiting for me by the taco table.
    â€œUh … not right now,” I told Sharma. “I really need a swim. That water looks awesome, doesn’t it? Why don’t you get in, and I’ll meet you in a sec?”
    I spun away and hurried back to Cindy.
    I’m going to be running back and forth between the two girls all night, I realized. This is like a totally bad TV sitcom. Only, it’s my life!
    â€œHere. I got you a taco,” Cindy said, handing it to me. “What were you