Sun-kissed (The Au Pairs 3)

They compared their respective graduation ceremonies, and the subject soon landed on their college choices.

"I'm still on the wait list at Dartmouth; can you believe?" Mara groaned. "I'm sooo bummed. How about you--did you hear from NYU yet?"

In an instant, her stomach sank. Jacqui couldn't think of a reply--she didn't want to own up to her rejection, especially after having given Mara the impression that she was a shoo-in. Plus, it hurt too much to admit it out loud. She had never felt so guarded in front of her friend before.

But Jacqui was saved the embarrassment of confessing by two loud, long beeps from the driveway.

"WHERE ARE MY HARAJUKU GIRLS?" Eliza bellowed from the front door of the house.

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reunited once again, the three musketeers

take a cigarette break

ELIZA CLIMBED OUT OF HER CAR. SHE WORE AWHITE strapless, empire-waist floor-length smocked jersey cotton dress that showed off her jutting collarbone and tanned shoulders. Perched on her button nose was a pair of oversized Dita sunglasses, the latest celebrity fashion obsession, the provenance of which she had tracked down to a boutique in West Hollywood. They were so big they obscured half of her face, but she had to have them. (Everyone else could wear run-of-the-mill Chanel and Gucci, but to be in the know, it was all about Dita!) Her hair was twisted into a long sexy French braid down her back. Her cheeks glowed and her teeth shone. She was the picture of summer, and the beat-up cowboy boots she wore added just the right edgy note. Mara and Jacqui admired Elizas dress and both immediately decided they wanted one too. That was the usual effect Eliza's clothes had on the female gender--you always wanted what she was wearing. Luckily, Eliza was one of those girls who happily shared her shopping secrets.

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"It's so cute, no? Planet Blue in the 'bu. I was in Cali with my dad the other week. I have the number, so no panicking!" Eliza enthused as she kissed the two girls effusively on each cheek--a habit she'd picked up after a day working in the fashion studio. "Jacqui, no one does more to a pair of Bermuda shorts than you. Where did you get them? Old Navy? Are you serious? They look designer! Mar, your haircut is so good! And did you do something to your eyebrows? But before we catch up, can someone please get me a bottled water? I'm parched!"

Mara laughed and fetched a frosty Glaceau Smartwater from the kitchen and handed it to her. When she'd first met Eliza, she had written her off as some kind of princessy brat, but Eliza had certainly proved her wrong. Although Eliza strove to live in a world where the Sub-Zero was always filled with champagne and caviar, she still knew what it was like to eat leftovers out of a ten-year-old Kenmore in Buffalo.

"Check it out!" Eliza said, motioning to the black LR3 parked in the driveway as she twisted off the top of the bottle and took a long chug.

Mara nodded, impressed. Eliza had told them that her family had regained their former affluence, and the car was proof of their ascension. "It's tight," she agreed.

"Where're the rug rats?" Eliza asked.

"At their granny's," Jacqui explained. "Agradeca o Deus." Thank the Lord.

"So no one's here? Good. We can smoke," Eliza said, pulling

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out a pack from a Chloe Silverado handbag. "You like? I know. I was bad," she admitted, referring to the bag's five-figure price tag.

The three of them made themselves comfortable on the front steps, catching up over cigarettes. It had occurred to all of them that this might be their last summer together--who knew where next year would bring them?--and the thought made them huddle closer together. Without it being said, all three of them were glad they had one more chance to have another sun-kissed season in the Hamptons to shop, play, and party their hearts out before college came calling.

The girly chitchat was momentarily suspended when a clattering taxicab pulled up to the driveway. A tiny girl stepped out of the back. She was a petite thing, an extremely pretty Korean girl with short brown hair in a pixie cut and cat's-eye tortoise-shell glasses. The driver helped her with her luggage--matching olive green Fendi logo suitcases--and she paid him with several crumpled dollar bills from her Gucci bag.

She consulted a piece of paper in her hand before glancing up at the girls. "Excuse me. This is Creek Head Manor, right?"

"Uh-huh." Mara nodded.

"Can I help you?" Jacqui asked.

The girl looked at the three of them intently, as if noticing them for the first time. "Oh my God!" she said. "You're them!"

"Them who?" Mara asked, turning to her friends with a confused expression.

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"You're famous!" the girl shrieked. "You guys are the coolest girls in the Hamptons--I read all about you in Teen Vogue!"

Last summer, as a favor to Mitzi Goober, the three of them had been featured in a "Summer Girls" roundup in the magazine. Mara had been pictured on Garrett Reynolds's arm, stepping out of a Bentley. Eliza had been photographed in her sequined Sass & Bide minidress holding a clipboard in front of a nightclub. There'd even been a double-page centerfold of Jacqui in the outfit she'd worn for the finale at the fashion show.

"You're Mara, right?" the girl said, thrusting a hand toward Mara. "I saw you on Sugar Perry's reality show!"