Page 62 of Hotter in the Hamptons

“Don’t worry,” Aly said. “I’m coming for you and your baby-oil habit.”

“She probably just doesn’t feel comfortable bossing you around yet,” Laurie said, bumping her shoulder into Aly’s.

Lola felt herself blush, and Aly grinned at her as if reading her mind.

Oh, they have no idea.

Suddenly, Clancy started wriggling again, pulling Lola’s focus as an alarming amount of snot dripped from his face and down his shirt.

“Oh, poor thing, does he have a cold?” Lola asked.

“No, he’s fine,” Lauren said, grinning. “What makes you say that?”

Lola didn’t know if she was joking. “It just seems like a lot of mucus.” She grimaced.

Laurie laughed, saving her. “Watch what happens when I try to wipe it.” She pulled a tissue from her pocket. The second she got within an inch of Clancy’s face, he started screaming, his face turning a reddish, ragey purple and his little eyes going all scrunched up.

“Got it,” Lola said, swallowing the ick that rose in her throat. She had never been good with kids.

Lola heard the sound of a door creaking open on ancient hinges and followed Aly’s gaze as she looked toward the house and grinned.

A small woman with a jet-black pixie cut and tiny sunglasses was walking toward them, a paperback in her hand. She was pale as a vampire with a see-through black dress and nothing but bikini bottoms underneath, her lips stark red with fresh lipstick.

“I cannotbelieveyou got your hands on theIntermezzogalley before me,” Aly cried.

“Sally sent it to me,” the woman said, kissing Aly on each cheek.

“I’ve never been so jealous in my life.”

Please don’t be Colette, Lola thought as she watched the easy familiarity between Aly and the woman before them.Please don’t be Colette. Please. Don’t be. Colette.

The woman turned to Lola.“Colette,” she said, sticking her hand out to shake. It was bony and cold in her grip.

“So nice to meet you,” Lola said, forcing her best smile. She paused for a moment, searching for something more to say, something impressive. “Wow, you’re so pretty,” she blurted out instead.

Internally, Lola winced. Externally, she willed herself to keep smiling.

Colette did not smile back. “As are you, love.”

Lola felt her anxiety, which had briefly quieted in the casual warmth of Laurie and Lauren, rise once again. The group stood there for a moment, awkwardly snared in thewhat’s nextof it all, when a fourth person burst from the house, waving her hand in greeting.

Jess, Lola reasoned, silently thanking the new arrival for the quick interruption. She looked like James Dean in a white T-shirt and blue jeans, her thick, brown hair slicked back in a pompadour.

Lola tried not to stare. Jess was very,veryattractive.

She saw what Aly meant when she said the couple was from another era. They almost looked like Danny and Sandy at the end ofGrease, all polished and sleek and hilariously juxtaposed against the weathered beach house.

Jess greeted Aly with a slap on the back so hard that Aly coughed.

“Let me take your things inside,” Jess said to Lola after they were introduced.

“I got them,” Aly said, but Jess had already gathered up all their bags and was heading inside.

Lola was surprised to see Aly roll her eyes. Was it jealousy? Did Aly not like being one-upped in the chivalry department? Did Aly prefer to be the only one taking care of Lola, or was it more about the performance of caretaking, and in that case, was it about whatColettethought? Lola felt unmoored in the new social dynamics, trying to understand years of friendship in a moment and how she fit in the mix.

They all followed Jess into the house, which smelled like Banana Boat sunscreen and the harsh chemicals people used to clean Airbnbs between guests. None of the furniture matched. Kids’ toys were everywhere.

Toto, we’re not in East Hampton anymore, Lola thought as she tookin the cramped rooms, the shaggy throw blankets, and the half-open windows. The house was great. She had just grown used to Giancarlo’s elevated beach decor and clean ocean view. Her summer thus far had been a bit more Amalfi Coast than Long Island. Not that there was anythingwrongwith Long Island. Lola could do Long Island. She could hear Ryan’s scoff at the very thought.Lola Likes Long Island, my ass, she imagined him whispering conspiratorially in her ear. Lola shook her head, urging herself to stop being such a snob.

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