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Kiss and Tell
Greer
Chelsea leans into my side and whispers giddily in my ear. “I’m getting surfing lessons tomorrow.” The smug smile on her face makes me terrified for her poor surfing instructor. “The instructor is beyond hot, and I heard a rumor he gives out more than basic instructions, if you know what I mean.”
Oh, I know exactly what she means. What happened to that Tyler person she had been worried about earlier… her boyfriend?
We haven’t been here long, and Chelsea is already getting on my last nerve. She’s beginning to dim the shine on my summer, and it’s only just begun.
Smiling sweetly, I can’t help but whisper, “Maybe the instructor will get lucky and you’ll get eaten by a shark on your first lesson.” I bat my eyelashes at her and look away quickly.
Our father spots us from where he’s sitting at a table with who I’m guessing are the Aldridges. He waves us over as Chelsea pinches my bicep, making me flinch away from her.
“You’re such a brat, Greer.”
Pot meet kettle. I roll my eyes but quickly rearrange my face so I can smile brightly for our father. This dinner is for him, and I’m not about to let Chelsea’s hormones ruin it for him.
Daddy holds his hands out to us and smiles warmly in greeting. “Here are my beautiful girls I’ve been telling you about.”
“Only a little bit late,” our mother chides from her place beside our father’s empty chair. She didn’t rise in greeting when he did, and I don’t miss her appraising look as her eyes skim over the dress I borrowed from Chelsea. I know she’ll find something lacking, as usual.
“You know how long it takes Greer to look presentable, Mom.” Chelsea smiles innocently at me, but the sting from her words doesn’t fade.
Ignoring them both, I take hold of my father’s hands and lean into him to kiss his cheek in greeting. “Daddy,” I murmur quietly before letting his hands go and stepping back so Chelsea can offer him a similar greeting.
“Princess,” he murmurs. His eyes are lit up excitedly, like a little kid’s, and I can’t help but be a little excited for him.
Tonight should be fun, and I hope we can help him secure this business deal.
“Here, girls, take a seat and allow me to introduce you to our guests.”
Chelsea shoots me a dirty look before quickly snagging the seat beside our father, leaving me to claim the one open seat beside her which is next to one of Daddy’s guests. She hates that he pays more attention to me than her, but I don’t ever see her making an effort to find some common ground with him. All that seems to preoccupy my sister these days are clothes, accessories, and most recently, boys.
I sit down and smile politely at the man sitting beside me. This must be Tristan. He’s the only one who fits the age, seeing as the other two are around my parents’ age and obviously a couple. He’s quite attractive, if you’re into that preppy, pretty boy thing. His light brown hair is swept back from his forehead carelessly. His high, hollow cheekbones give him an aristocratic air. His eyes are a light, bleached out green that gives him a slightly lazy vibe. The collar on his pale pink polo shirt is slightly popped, and he has an arrogance that wafts off of him like an expensive, oppressive cologne.
He looks at me and my sister with a little quirk of his thin lips and a glint of amused interest in his eyes, as if he were trying to decide which one of us will provide more entertainment during his stay at the resort.
Chelsea made a big mistake taking the chair meant for me. I almost feel smug about it. Almost.
“Girls, this young man is Tristan Aldridge, whom I’ve been telling you about, and his folks, Nancy and Travis. They are going to be our guests for the next four weeks.” He smiles kindly at me. “Greer, I’m sure you and Tristan will get along just fine.”
Yeah, I’m not so sure about that anymore. Tristan’s eyes skim over me the same way Mom’s just did a second ago, but I flash him a small, patronizing smile, blatantly ignoring the venom Chelsea shoots my way like laser beams out of her eyeballs. Apparently Tristan, in the five seconds we’ve been in his presence, has already caught her eye. I knew it. I’d bet the family fortune that if she can’t have Tyler, Tristan might be a good substitute.
It’s official, my sister is boy crazy and should be locked up for her own good before she gets hurt.
“It’s nice to finally meet you, Greer. Your father has nothing but good things to say about you.” He hesitates before saying, “And you as well, Chelsea.”
He barely even looks at her, and his smile is just a tad too smarmy for my liking. I catch his eyes dipping down to check out my chest, and I immediately know his type—rich boy used to getting everything he wants and expecting it to be handed over on a silver platter. I bet his father even bought his way into Yale, or at the very least had to grease a few palms since he’d gotten there. I wouldn’t be surprised if there were already a couple of buildings with his name on campus.
I love my sister, truly I do, but she would be better suited sitting next to this guy than me. I’d be willing to throw her right under the bus if I could, because I doubt Tristan and I will have a lot in common.
“Nice to meet you,” I mutter, keeping the laugh under my breath, hoping he doesn’t catch on that I’m being disingenuous.
“Ah,” my mother exclaims while clapping happily. “The champagne is finally here. Greer, why don’t you take yours and show Tristan the deck and the incredible view before the sun sets.”
We just sat down and now she’s trying to push me off on him too. What the heck is going on here? Are my parents trying to hook me up with this guy or what? I’m starting to feel like a show pony being paraded in front of prospective buyers, I swear to God.
A Waterford flute full of bubbly is placed in front of me by a very pretty, tall redhead with porcelain skin and an athletic figure that probably means she surfs like the rest of the yuppies around these parts. If I stood up next to her, I’d bet her legs would come all the way up to my belly button.
