Page 11 of Surfside Sisters

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Ciao, cara! Come va?

Keely stood in the front hall of her home, grateful for the air-conditioning as she read the postcard in her hand. Her parents weren’t home yet, so she sank to the floor right there and then, allowing all her emotions to crowd in together. Happiness because Isabelle sent the card. Jealousy, as always, because Isabelle was piling up such exotic experiences for her novels while Keely worked at Clean Sweep and babysat in her free time.

Longing for Sebastian.

Disgust because she was so lame, allowing herself to daydream about him.

Also, for the first time, maybe a little spark of smugness. Keely was writing. Really writing. Any free time she had, Keely spent working on short stories and reading how-to books by famous writers. She couldn’t wait to share her fiction with Isabelle.

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“What do you think?” Mrs. Maxwell asked Keely.

“Delicious!” Keely lied. The pasta Bolognese on her plate reeked of garlic, and the sausage Mrs. Maxwell had used had an unfamiliar, gristly texture.

Plus, Sebastian wasn’t here for their first family dinner back home on the island. He’d gone to “visit” Sherry. This year, the childhood traditions changed, because the children had changed. Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell insisted Isabelle stay home. Keely was allowed to join them.

“In Italy,” Isabelle said, “I was allowed to drink wine.” She shot an evil eye at her father.

“We’re not in Italy anymore, darling,” Mr. Maxwell reminded her.

After dinner, the girls secluded themselves in Isabelle’s room. They sat on the floor between the twin beds so no one could overhear them. It was too hot to be outside, so luxurious to be in the cool air.

“So tell me everything,” Isabelle urged.

“Wait, you tell me about Italy.”

“I don’t care about Italy! What did you do? What did anyone on the island do?”

Keely grinned. “Bliss got pregnant! She had to marry Gavin!”

“Is she going to finish senior year?”

“I doubt it. Her baby’s due in December.”

“Poor Bliss. Where are they living?”

“With Gavin’s parents.”

“I woulddie.”

“I’m not having sex until I’m in college,” Keely announced. “I’ve decided.”

“But what if you, like, fall in love before then?”

“That’s so not going to happen.”

“Good. Because I’m going to wait, too. I want to get really good grades. I think I might join the girls’ basketball team, too.” Isabelle made a funny face. “I’m tall, plus I’ll exhaust all my adolescent hormones that way.”

“I’m not going to do a sport. Nothing interests me. Besides, I want to keep writing. I have so many short stories I want you to read!”

“You got to write all summer,” Isabelle said mournfully. “I’m so jealous.”

Keely scoffed. “Yeah, right. While you were in Italy, you were jealous.”

“It’s true!” Isabelle stood up and stretched. “I’m soantsythese days! Are you?”

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