Forbidden Boy

Hailey Abbott

her mouth, soft but insistent, like he was determined to find out more, but willing to take all the time in the world to do it. She ran her hands up and down his spine, tracing the muscles of his back. Jules remembered her surprise at seeing him in his towel in the trailer and blushed. Julia

She nudged Remi and hissed urgently, “Someone’s coming.” Remi’s already-huge eyes grew as big as Frisbees as he catapulted himself at least five feet away from her. “Nice air!” she whispered, gri

Remi pointed to his sweater, which was sitting to Jules’s left. A minute ago, it had been tucked under her head while they looked at the sky. “Toss it somewhere!” Remi whispered, before subtly blowing her a kiss and taking off down the beach as though he were out for a night run. Julia

Absentmindedly, she began making piles of sand around 176

Forbidden Boy

her legs, transferring little bits from one pile to the other and back again.

The footsteps got closer, and Julia

177

Chapter Nineteen

!

When the footsteps were directly behind her, Julia

Chloe’s eyes sca

“Cute outfit,” Chloe said.

“Thanks.” Julia

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Forbidden Boy

“Nice to know that even without my styling you, you can come up with something nice.” Chloe giggled. “So, was the Fishtail hopping?”

“Oh, Chloe, it was ridiculous, totally packed.” Jules leaned in to fill her sister in on that night’s party. “There was an awesome DJ and a ton of cute guys—even some we didn’t already know.” She laughed at the closeness of their town. “I think Lucy got, like, three new phone numbers.” Chloe laughed. “And you? Did you add anything to your little black book?”

“Not so much. I wasn’t really there looking, if you know what I mean,” Julia

“I have absolutely no idea what you mean. These days, I’m always looking!”

“Well, the Fishtail was an awesome place to look tonight,” Julia

There was so much energy. Some freshman girls followed Mitch and Hunter around all night, just giggling at them. It was hilarious. Every time we turned around, there they were. But they never said a word!”

“Oh man.” Chloe laughed. “Do you remember when that was us? Watching senior guys pass by in the hallway at school and just totally losing it?”

“I know! Mitch even went up and asked them their names, and they just giggled and ran away.” Julia

Hailey Abbott

“It sounds like it was fun.” Chloe sighed. “Much better than filling out charts all night.”

“You’ll have to come with us next time. It’ll be great!” Julia

Julia

Save for some pilfered Halloween candy when she was eight, Julia

Chloe’s voice jolted Julia

“Okay,” Julia

“The guys were cute?” Chloe reaffirmed.

“Definitely,” Julia

“I haven’t been out in for-ever,” Chloe enunciated.

“All I do these days is work. I don’t think I’ve been to a party since Malibu.”

“Yeah . . .” Julia

Forbidden Boy

was realizing that her promise to go out with her sister next time around might not work if she wanted to see Remi, too.

“Can I ask you a question?” Chloe asked thoughtfully. Julia

“Yup?” Julia

“How would you feel about having a little soiree next week?” Chloe suggested conspiratorially.

“While Dad is in New York?” Jules was hesitant—she already had way too many secrets in her life right now.

“You, my dear, are a mind reader. You know, like a bringing-down-the-house party?” Chloe pressed on, full steam ahead.

“A what?” Julia

“A bringing-down-the-house party. You know, if the Moores are going to level our house anyway, then we ought to throw it quite the goodbye shindig.” Julia

“But wouldn’t Dad be pretty pissed off if we get to keep the house after all and there’s nothing left but a post-party pile of stones and beams?” Julia

“Fair enough,” Chloe answered thoughtfully. “I was halfway joking, anyway.”

Julia

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Her heart was still racing with the stress of being dishonest. “I know,” she said softly.

“So, tell me more about the Fishtail,” Chloe chirped.

“Who was there, who was single?”

“Um, Hunter and Mitch,” Julia

“Yeah, but you run with them. They don’t count.

They’re too sibling-y to make out with. Who else?” Chloe pressed on.

“Oh, I don’t know. Some surfers. Some guys playing pool—Lucy was really into them.” Julia

“Hmm. Definite potential,” Chloe declared. “Anyone really catch your eye, though? Anyone special?” This was becoming torturous. “No one new.” Julia

“Well, just meeting new guys is half the battle,” Chloe said supportively. “I know it was tough for you to get over McMansion Jr., but I’m really glad you did. It’s good to see you going out and meeting new guys.” Julia

“Jules, you know I’m proud of you, right?” Chloe’s words were like salt in a huge cut on her sister’s heart.

“That painting was really amazing, you know,” Chloe said after a moment of silence.

Julia