Part 10 (2/2)
Dylan was officially back in summer-crush mode-v. 2.0.
”One last question.” Merri-Lee hooked a chunk of burgundy hair behind her diamond-studded ear. Then she winked at her daughter in a this-one's-for-you sort of way. ”Is there a lucky girl who you'll be celebrating with at the ESPN party tonight?”
Gawd! How did her mother know? Was Dylan drooling? Panting? Foaming at the mouth? Not that it mattered. All she really cared about was his answer.
”Well, I'd be the lucky one if I could get the real star of the Aloha Open to do me the honor . . .” Brady extended his hand toward . . . Dylan.
Ehmagawd! Dylan wanted to freeze time. She needed to re-gloss, fluff her hair, nervous-puke, change into something with color, and call Ma.s.sie to brag. But all she could do was dry her clammy hands on her white skirt and join him under the bright klieg lights. Dylan wanted to freeze time. She needed to re-gloss, fluff her hair, nervous-puke, change into something with color, and call Ma.s.sie to brag. But all she could do was dry her clammy hands on her white skirt and join him under the bright klieg lights.
Where she'd known she belonged all along.
KAPALUA SPA AND TENNIS CLUB.
POOLSIDE ICE CREAM BAR.
Wednesday, July 8 5:18 P.M.
A wonderfully s.h.i.+rtless Hawaiian waiter wearing board shorts and a red and white striped ap.r.o.n slid a smile-shaped bowl down the polished mahogany bar.
”One b.u.t.terscotch sundae, two spoons,” he announced.
Brady's brown eyes widened when the guilty pleasure stopped in front of him.
Without a single self-doubting thought, Dylan grabbed both spoons, loaded them up with gooey ice cream, and stuffed them both in her mouth. ”Didn't you order one?” she managed through the onset of brain freeze.
Brady giggle-pulled one of the spoons out of her mouth and stuck it right in his. He didn't even wipe it off.
It seemed like everyone by the pool was envy-staring while Brady and Dylan swapped stories about their lives and friends back home. They were probably wondering what it was like to be highly attractive famous sports icons: BALL GIRL AND RACKET BOY: THE LOVE LOVE STORY. STORY.
”Is this what life without tennis is like?” He licked his lips and dug in deep for another taste. ”It's enough to make me give up sports for good.”
”Really?” Dylan beamed. ”You'd do that?”
Before he could answer, Mom-Coach appeared, her rectangular head eclipsing the bright sun. Dylan groaned. It was a total Netflix moment-just as the movie was getting good, the DVD broke.
Dylan pulled her black chiffon wrap off the back of her bar chair and draped it over her berry red Juicy one-piece. For some reason, Mom-Coach's chilly stare made her feel exposed.
”Sign, please.” The barrel-chested blonde-from-a-box troll slammed a doc.u.ment on the bar. She clicked a fake-gold Parker pen and handed it to Dylan. Everyone on the deck turned to stare.
”What's this?” Dylan inched closer to Brady's strong arms, just in case Svetlana was lurking.
”Confidentiality agreement,” she said as though she were chewing chunky beef stew.
”Why would I sign this?” Dylan looked at Brady as if he might have the answer.
”I can have my manager look it ov-”
”No manager!” Mom-Coach stomped her yellow Crocs. ”Read and you will understand.”
Dylan took another spoonful of ice cream, removed her silver square-framed Marc Jacobs sungla.s.ses, and lifted the doc.u.ment to her heavily mascaraed eyes.
Brady leaned in. He smelled like peppermint from the complimentary special-edition Aveda sports soap in the rooms.
”Confidential!” Mom-Coach pushed him away. ”Now read! I have international flight to catch.”
Dylan did her best to focus on the confidential, eight-point font on the bright white letterhead. But it was hard, because Brady was inhaling the sundae, and she wanted to get back to both of them before they were gone.
For Dylan Marvil: Svetlana Slootskyia is sorry for damage caused to you (by her). She is going back to treatment facility to work on anger. When she returns to sport she will emerge with new name and hair color to signify fresh start. Ilana Bravya Slootskyia will be of brown hair with much patience and kindness. And she would like your help. This means no mention of the ”episodes” you recorded (twisting wrist and smas.h.i.+ng votives). No interviews to talk about how she bashed you with tennis b.a.l.l.s. No bad words about her at all. If you do this, we will give you first dibs on all free clothing and merchandise she gets from sponsors for the next ten years. And American Boris when we locate him.X_________________________________(Dylan Marvil) Dylan put a big X through the part about Boris and signed. She knew she could probably ask for more, but why bother?
She had everything she wanted.
Now that you're clued in to the confidentiality contract, you're another step closer to being IN.
In the know, that is. . . .
SUMMER STATE OF THE UNION.
IN Purple hair streaks Confidentiality contractsEuro pop starsShark-tooth necklacesMa.s.sie & Claire in OrlandoOUTSummer secrets Five girls. Five stories. One ah-mazing summer.
THE CLIQUE.
SUMMER COLLECTION.
BY LISI HARRISON.
Turn the page for a sneak peek of Alicia's story. . . .
THE CLIQUE.
SUMMER COLLECTION.
ALICIA.
BARCELONA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
CUSTOMS GATE.
Tuesday, June 8 1:45 P.M.
Alicia Rivera stuffed her purple-and-turquoise vintage Pucci silk wrap in the side pocket of her Louis Vuitton carry-on and wheeled it toward baggage claim. She could practically hear hear her mother scolding her for treating the delicate, wrinkle-p.r.o.ne fabric with such reckless abandon. But she opposite of cared. Nadia was back in Westchester and Alicia had just arrived in Spain. Thanks to an all-consuming lipo-gone-wrong trial, her attorney father and supportive mother had to stay home. And that meant her mother scolding her for treating the delicate, wrinkle-p.r.o.ne fabric with such reckless abandon. But she opposite of cared. Nadia was back in Westchester and Alicia had just arrived in Spain. Thanks to an all-consuming lipo-gone-wrong trial, her attorney father and supportive mother had to stay home. And that meant she she was parent-free for the first summer of her entire life. was parent-free for the first summer of her entire life.
And the rules were about to change.
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