“I don’t want to talk about my family with you,” Avery said. “Seriously, go back to your friends,” she repeated. She was trying to stay angry, but the faint scent of his Clarins SPF for Men lotion and the way his eyebrows were still knit in consternation below his prominent brow was melting her resolve.
“What friends?” Rhys asked in confusion. “Are you talking about Owen?”
“No, I’m not talking about Owen,” Avery blurted in frustration. “Look, it’s your vacation, hook up, have fun. I mean, it’s not like we did anything. I just thought you’d be classier than that.” Avery cringed as soon as the words left her mouth. She sounded like a jilted Greenwich housewife, yelling at her husband after hearing a lame excuse about why he missed the train to Connecticut.
“Oh my God, those British girls? That’s Owen’s thing. He thought we should meet girls to sort of start fresh after Kelsey. I know it’s dumb.” Rhys opened his hands wide, as if to prove to her he wasn’t hiding anything. “I don’t know, it was a lame guy bonding idea. But I didn’t like them.”
Avery searched Rhys’s face. It was turning bright red, and something about his wide-eyed, deer-in-headlights look made her pretty certain he wasn’t lying. And he sort of looked cute when he was flustered. Still, she waited for him to finish his excuse. “Owen’s crazy protective, so I couldn’t tell him what’s really going on…. What I mean is… I can’t tell him that I don’t want those girls, because I only want you,” Rhys finished.
“Why should I believe you?” Avery kept her hand firmly on the sliding door, as if she might suddenly slam it against Rhys’s foot.
“Because I had a dream about you,” Rhys said randomly, wondering why he’d chosen that of all reasons to prove his innocence. Still, it was the truth. He looked over at a terra-cotta planter in the shape of a whale that was on the patio, afraid to meet Avery’s gaze.
“Okay,” Avery said in what she hoped was an appropriately ice-queen voice. She turned and walked toward the kitchen. “Come in if you want.”
“Thanks.” Avery heard the squeaking sound of the door being pulled shut. Even though her back was toward Rhys, the room suddenly felt that much smaller.
“What was your dream about?” Avery asked, her back still toward him. She suddenly felt shy. She’d had crushes on boys before, but nothing like this. And no guy had ever told her he’d had a dream about her, except Dewey Williams, a kid in kindergarten who wet his pants and also had six imaginary friends. That didn’t count.
But this did.
“It was about you,” Rhys said, coming up in front of her. “You and me doing this.” He cupped Avery’s chin and pulled her forward. He leaned in and kissed her gently on the mouth. Avery kissed back, slowly at first, then faster. He was a few inches taller than her, and she could feel his muscled arms.
“This is better than my dream,” Rhys whispered into Avery’s hair. Avery nodded eagerly. She’d never made out in a hotel room, but suddenly it felt like the most natural thing in the world. Maybe Baby, Layla, and Jack could find somewhere else to sleep tonight so that she and Rhys could do this for the rest of the trip.
They’ll love that plan.
Their kissing became more forceful and Avery pulled Rhys over to the couch. She sank down onto it, inviting him to sit next to her, when there was a knock on the door. Ugh. Now the maid decided to show up? Avery wished she’d put the DO NOT DISTURB sign on the door handle.
“Not a good time!” Avery called in between kisses. The knocks got louder. “Um, privacy? Come back later!” Avery yelled again.
“Ave, I just need to pee!” Owen yelled. “I can’t make it to my room!”
“Go in the ocean!” Avery yelled. It was what Owen always used to do. Rhys clapped his hand over his mouth to suppress a laugh.
“Ave?” Owen pleaded outside. Rhys shrugged, as if to say, What can you do?
“Hide!” Avery hissed, pushing him into the bedroom and shoving the door closed. Once Rhys was out of sight, she pulled open the door to the villa.
“Hi!” Owen yelled, running into the bathroom.
A minute later, he came out, wiping his hands on the legs of his board shorts. “Hey sis,” Owen said as he sauntered over to the black-and-white-striped daybed in the corner and sat down, as if settling in for an all-day chat.
“What are you up to?” Avery asked, smoothing her orange-and-green Lilly Pulitzer halter dress. She hoped she didn’t look like she’d been making out.
“You know, the usual. Scoping out the scenery, meeting new people…” Owen sighed and crossed his arms over his chest. “What about you? Haven’t seen you around.”
“Oh, well, Jack’s here. So I was on the beach with her for a while….”
“Really?” Owen scanned the room. “Jack’s here?”
Avery instantly wished she hadn’t told Owen that Jack had arrived. Of course he’d figure it out eventually, but now he was going to have a million questions. Back when the two of them had been pretending to date, she’d sensed that there was something between them, and she wasn’t sure how she felt about that—especially since Jack had a boyfriend now. Besides, this was not the time for a sibling heart-to-heart.
“No,” Avery said shortly. “She’s still at the beach.” She noticed Rhys’s flip-flops and quickly kicked them under the couch. Owen regarded her curiously. “I think those are Layla’s or Riley’s. Anyway, I should take a shower, so you should probably go.”
“You seem weird. Are you okay?” Owen asked, making no motion to stand up. “No!” Avery screeched. “I mean, I’m fine. I was just napping so I’m a little out of it. It’s this thing where you’re supposed to nap for ten minutes in the afternoon so you can stay up later. I figured vacation was the best time to try it out!” Avery said. Even as she said it, she knew it sounded absurd.
“That sounds lame.” Owen wrinkled his nose and wandered into the kitchen. He rifled through the minibar and pulled out a Nature Valley granola bar. He pulled the wrapper open and took a large bite. “You haven’t seen Rhys, have you?” Small flecks of crumbs sprayed onto the marble floor. Gross. Avery was very glad Rhys didn’t seem to have the same terrible eating habits as her brother.
“Rhys?” she repeated dumbly.
“Yeah,” Owen said ultra-slowly, as if Avery were a very slow four-year-old. He loudly crunched the rest of his granola bar. “He’s been acting sort of weird. I think it’s just that it’s romantic here, and he’s reminded of Kelsey. Does that make sense?” He frowned.
“Can we talk about this later?” Avery pleaded, practically driving Owen toward the door.
“He’s just a good guy. I want him to find a good girl, you know?” Owen mused as he stood in the doorframe.
“Maybe he’s looking for you. Both of the golf carts are gone,” Avery said desperately. She started to literally push him out the door.
“I guess so. Okay, thanks, Ave!” Owen walked out onto the patio.
Avery breathed a sigh of relief once the door had closed behind him.
“Apparently, I need to find a good girl?” Rhys asked, pushing open the door to the bedroom. There was a teasing smirk on his face. “For a second, I was worried I’d have to hide under the bed. I actually practiced hiding there, just to make sure I’d fit,” he said with a grin, his dark curls sexily tousled. Avery burst out laughing, imagining Rhys trying to wedge under the king-size bed amidst all the girls’ luggage.
“When I was little I used to be scared that monsters were hiding under the bed,” Avery admitted shyly. She sat on the couch and pulled her legs under her.
“Me too,” Rhys confided, sliding onto the couch next to her. She looked so sweet and innocent, and it was so cute to listen to her trying to hide him from Owen. He leaned in to kiss her.
Just then, Rhys’s cell beeped.
Happy T-giving, fucker. Seal the deal! Next to it was a picture of two turkeys in a lewd position. Hugh. Rhys quickly pressed delete and slid the phone back into his pocket before Avery could see it.
/>
“Who was that?” Avery asked curiously. “One of your secret girlfriends?” she teased.
“Nothing. Just a guy from the swim team,” Rhys said hoarsely. He quickly stood up, went to the door, and clicked the brass lock. Now they wouldn’t be bothered.
“No more interruptions,” Avery murmured. She tossed her long hair over her shoulder.
“Nope,” Rhys whispered, hoping Avery didn’t notice his phone continuing to vibrate from his pocket.
What she doesn’t know can’t hurt her… yet.
sisterly bonding
Baby dashed toward the villa on Friday evening. She and Riley had bumped into Rhys and Owen on their way back from the stables. Apparently, Owen was hell-bent on having a guys’ night out at the resort’s bar, and Riley had opted to join them. It was just as well: All Baby wanted was a nice hot shower.
To wash away the guilt?
She and Riley had spent all afternoon on the other side of the island, riding the horses from one cove to the next, playing in the water, and kissing. It had been so fun and magical, but part of Baby felt guilty. Riley’s explanation of his and Layla’s relationship made sense—she’d heard of lots of couples who did that in college—but there was a difference between making out with a random girl Layla would never meet and making out with Layla’s almost stepsister.
“Hello?” Baby called as she slid open the glass door.
“Hey!” Layla emerged from the bedroom, wearing an oversize white American Apparel T-shirt belted as a dress. “How was riding?”
Baby blushed. “It was good. Um. We missed you,” Baby lied.
Layla nodded. “I’m glad you and Riley had fun,” she said slowly. Baby blinked. Did Layla sound suspicious? She couldn’t tell from her tone. “Your sister and her friend are getting ready for dinner. They’re going to that fancy restaurant in the hotel and pretending they’re ninety.” Layla cracked a grin.
“I heard that!” Avery yelled from the other side of the closed bedroom door.
Baby grinned at Layla.
“Anyway, I was thinking maybe we could grab some beers and hit the beach?” Layla asked hopefully. “I feel like we haven’t spent that much time together.”
“That sounds great,” Baby said, a lump in her throat. She was surprised to find she did want to spend time with Layla. She was funny and easygoing. She even got along with Avery. But the guilt over Riley felt like it was seeping out of Baby’s pores.
“Great, let’s go. Bye, ladies!” Layla called as she scooped up a woven hemp bag filled with cans of Kalik beers she’d obviously stolen from the guys’ villa. She grabbed Baby with her other arm, and the two of them walked companionably down the limestone steps toward the beach.
“I’m really glad we’re almost sisters,” Baby said shyly as they settled on a piece of driftwood and gazed toward the horizon. It was true. No matter what, this afternoon had to be a one-time thing. No matter what their relationship agreement was, it definitely didn’t apply to sisters.
But what about stepsisters?
“Me too. I’ve always wanted a little sister.” Layla grinned and cracked open two beers.
“I never thought about that.” Baby glanced at Layla’s profile. She was so pretty, with her curly hair piled high on the top of her head. She was obviously the type of girl who only did what made her happy and only spent time with people she liked. What would happen when she found out her little sister had made out with her boyfriend? Baby shivered at the thought.
“Cold?” Layla asked. She rooted through her hemp bag, pulled out an oversize purple hoodie, and offered it to Baby.
“I’m good. So, Layla? Is that from the Eric Clapton song?” Baby asked shyly.
“How’d you guess?” Layla rolled her eyes, as if that was what everyone asked her about her name. Baby winced in sympathy. She could understand. Everyone who met her assumed her name was from Dirty Dancing. Layla shrugged and took a sip of her beer.
Layla cleared her throat. “It’s funny. My dad’s always been so into music and art, but growing up, all he cared about was work. It’s only been in the past couple years that he’s seemed to really like his life. I always want to like my life, you know?”
“Me too,” Baby admitted. She pushed her small feet farther into the cool sand.
“That’s my first piece of big-sister advice.” Layla grinned, but her tone was serious. “In high school, I thought I knew who I was. And then in college, you learn so much about yourself. I mean, yeah, that sounds totally lame, but you sort of find out who you really are, away from your family and friends. Of course, I always had Riley….” Layla trailed off.
“Did that make going to college easier?” Baby asked finally, unsure of what to say that wouldn’t sound like it was prying.
How considerate.
“Yes and no. It’s hard because I sometimes wonder what it would have been like if I came to college totally single. I sometimes think I’m ready to take the plunge and dive out of the nest or whatever that saying is,” Layla confessed, looking into the horizon. The sun was slowly setting. Waves gently lapped at the shore.
Baby’s heartbeat quickened. Did that mean that Layla thought she and Riley were over? “When I moved to the city from Nantucket, I stayed with my boyfriend for a little,” Baby offered.
“What happened?”
“He cheated on me and we broke up,” Baby admitted, a shiver running up her spine. Thinking about it, wasn’t that exactly the same thing going on between Layla and Riley? Baby shivered, not liking where this conversation was going. After all, it was a totally different situation. Tom had been a pot-smoking high school boy. Riley was a sensitive artist. It was totally different.
Totally.
“What’s Oberlin like?” Baby asked, desperately trying to change the subject.
“It’s fine.” Layla sighed. “No, it’s great. I love my classes and my friends and my music, and it’s almost like everything I ever wanted. It’s just sometimes hard to grow up and do what you have to do,” she added cryptically.
Baby gazed out on the ocean. The sun was reflecting on the water, making it look like the water was on fire. Layla was sweet and sincere, and a large part of Baby wanted to tell her about what had happened on the beach with Riley this afternoon. But then she remembered Riley’s lopsided smile and the way he kissed her and his adorable Texas accent…
And the fact he calls himself a Player?
“Dude, I’m freaking starving!” Layla said, the mood broken. “I think the bar by the pool has some fried conch. Wanna share?” She smiled warmly at Baby.
Sharing is caring.
announcement
Saturday afternoon, Avery ran into Le Sel de Mer, the lavish dining room in the main hotel. She weaved past bored-looking couples picking at their plates of tuna tartare and gossiping about the Gstaad ski vacations they were planning for Christmas. She scanned the room but couldn’t see her mother’s elephant-batiked sarong or Birkenstocks amid the women dressed in silk pastel dresses.
“Hey!” Baby called from a center table, waving Avery over. Her hair was pulled in two messy braids on either side of her head and she was wearing an oversize white linen shirt belted as a dress. She looked ridiculously cool, even while she was shredding her iced-tea straw wrapper into smaller and smaller pieces.
“Hi,” Avery said cautiously as she sat down in one of the wicker chairs opposite Baby. Something seemed off about her ever since last night. She hoped she wasn’t still mad about Jack being here.
“Hi.” Baby didn’t look up from her iced tea. “What have you been up to this morning?” she asked quickly, as if sensing that Avery was about to launch an open investigation into her emotions. After she and Layla had their heart-to-heart last night, Baby had faked sick from the fried conch and had gone to bed early. She had a lot to think about. What she and Riley had done during the afternoon had seemed so right, and had even made sense, especially when Riley explained his and Layla’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. B
ut it got complicated when she factored in how much she liked Layla.
“Nothing much.” Now it was Avery’s turn to block any future questions. She loved keeping her and Rhys’s relationship a secret. It was romantic, sort of like in Titanic, which Avery would never admit she actually loved. Except it was better, since she and Rhys didn’t have any of those pesky class differences to navigate.
Avery spread her daffodil yellow napkin over her lap. “Where’s Layla?”
“I’m here.” Layla glided over to the table, her Coach sunglasses perched atop her curls. “You okay?” she asked Baby, ruffling her tousled brown hair. “Riley asked about you this morning. I had to indulge him by going on another pony ride.” Layla rolled her large green eyes.
“Yeah.” Baby stammered. “I mean, it was just the food. I got sick because of the food.” Baby was speaking way too quickly, using the same voice she’d used when she was trying to tell Avery she hadn’t stolen her favorite Citizen skinny jeans. Avery narrowed her eyes. What was going on?
“I thought it was fine,” Layla said easily. “Probably because I’m used to dining hall food. Seriously, college gives you a stomach of steel,” she said knowingly.
“Oh look!” Edie’s unmistakable voice pierced the air. Avery looked up and saw her mom wearing a sand-colored maxidress that looked like it was made out of a discarded ship sail, dragging Remington behind her. Remington was wearing the same white linen pants and white linen shirt he’d worn yesterday. “They’re all together!” Edie stood for a moment and stared at them, obviously taking in the scene for future artistic reference.
Avery smiled. Despite their weird hippie-holiday attire, her mom and Remington looked good together. More than that, she’d never seen her mom so happy. It was obvious she was in love.
It runs in the family!
“My brood!” Edie swooped down and kissed the top of Avery, Baby, and Layla’s heads. “You’re bonding!” she cooed fondly, completely oblivious to the fact the whole restaurant was regarding her curiously. “Don’t they look great?” she asked the gray-haired restaurant host, who was patiently clutching a collection of woven straw menus in his hands.