The guy stopped pushing the long pole he was holding and looked at her. He was pretty old—at least in his forties. “The radio is right beside you, ma’am.”
“Iknowthat.” She glanced at the small portable radio on the glass table near her lounge chair. “My nails are still wet.”
The guy put down his pole—did he seriously just roll his eyes?—and walked over to the table. He turned the knob, and Gwen Stefani’s voice carried through the speaker. “How’s that?”
“Good. You can go back to”—she waved her hand at him— “whatever you were doing.”
“Yes,ma’am.”
Ugh, Kalista didn’t like his tone at all. She’d have to tell Daddy to get another pool man. She blew on her hot-pink nails, then lay back on the lounge chair and closed her eyes. The bright California sunshine warmed her skin, and the white string bikini she wore was very comfortable. She might wear it to the beach this afternoon when she met up with Abbie, Ryan, and their other friends. Having a huge pool was nice, but she loved being at the beach—or rather, beingseenat the beach.Let’s be real.
She was just about to turn over when the worst voice that ever existed hit her ears. “Kalista!”
Kalista cringed. Maybe if she didn’t move, Bettany would think she was asleep. She kept super still, resisting a scowl when sheheard her stepmother’s kitten heels approach on the textured tile surrounding the pool.
“I know you’re awake and you can hear me.” Bettany kicked Kalista’s lounger.
Rude. Kalista took off her sunglasses. The pool man was gone, but Bettany was looming over her. “What do you want?”
“Ray-baby wants to talk to you.”
So dumb. “Why can’t you call him Raymond like my four other stepmothers did?”
“Because he’s my Ray-baby.” Bettany’s long blond extensions framed her face. Her very young face. Kalista had been shocked to find out her stepmother of three months was twenty-five—only seven years older than Kalista. So tragic. “He’s in his office.”
At least her father was home. Usually he was gone during the week, either at his office downtown or flying out somewhere to close some business deal. Kalista wasn’t sure exactly what kind of business her father was in, but he was incredibly rich, and that’s all Kalista cared about. She replaced her sunglasses. “Tell him I’m busy.”
“He’s not going to like that.”
“Don’t care.”
“You’re such a brat.” Bettany stormed off.
Kalista frowned. Maybe she was being bratty, but not any more than her stupid stepmother. She wondered how long this marriage would last. The longest one was Megyn, and that had been eight years, when Kalista was in her early teens. She didn’t like her either.
Another song started, this one by Maroon 5, and Kalista focused on the music and her tan and pushed Bettany and “Ray-baby” out of her mind. When Adam Levine crooned the last words, the radio shut off. “Hey,” Kalista said, scrambling to sit up. “I was listening to that.”
“Now you’re going to listen to me.”
Uh-oh. She whipped off her sunglasses at her father’s stern tone. She hadn’t expected him to come out here, and he didn’t look happy. “Hi, Daddy,” she said, giving him her sweetest smile.
His expression softened. “Hi, sweetheart. Are you enjoying the pool?”
“Yes, very much.”
“Good.” He looked at the crystal-clear water, tinted blue by the Moroccan tiles decorating the edge. “I need to spend more time out here,” he mumbled. “Shame to have such a nice backyard and never enjoy it.”
Kalista was surprised to hear him say that. Usually he was just in and out of the house, and every once in a while he’d call and check in with her. It could be annoying sometimes, like when she was at the mall or the movies or at a friend’s house after school. But after next week, she wouldn’t have to worry about school anymore.
He turned to her. “What are your plans after graduation, Kalista?”
Plans? “Hang out here. Oh, and hang out with my friends. Go shopping for sure, and of course go out with Ryan.” They weren’t official, but they were going out more frequently lately. She liked him, but she also liked to keep her options open.
“What about college?”
“Ew, no. I’m tired of school, Daddy.” She laid back down. “I just wanna have fun, you know?”
He pushed his hand through his short gray hair. “That’s what I’m worried about. It’s time to grow up.”
