Sun-Kissed Christmas (Summer) Read Online Free PDF Page B

Austin to meet his great-uncle Harris. And I’m not dressed up.” She smoothed her dress. “Am I? Am I, like, way-over-the-top-desperate dressed up? Or just showing-respect-to-your-relative-for-our-interview dressed up?”
    “Don’t worry. You look just right. Besides, guys never catch the subtleties. All they ever notice is whether you smell good.”
    “So who exactly is Sarah?” Summer asked, lowering her voice. “And why exactly is she here?”
    Diana cleared her throat. “It’s a funny story, really. I mean, you’re going to laugh when I tell you.”
    “Why is it I almost never end up laughing when someone says that?”
    “See, she was sort of abandoned at the Christmas party. In the bathroom. Her mom—she’s, like,
our
age, Summer!—was reading one of Mallory’s books. The one with the Indian with cleavage—you know which one I mean?”
    “Diana, Austin’s coming. I can hear his car. Give me the condensed version.”
    Diana swallowed. She wasn’t used to sounding like a ditz, even a well-meaning one. She was the cool, rational ice queen. In this household, Summer and Marquez were the ones who came up with harebrainedschemes.
    “We’re keeping her.”
    Austin pulled up in his recently purchased, very old, shuddering green Dodge. Summer kept her eyes glued on Diana. “Keeping her?” she repeated.
    “Just until her mom comes back.”
    “Which will be when, exactly?”
    Austin honked. Summer turned to wave. Esme was in the front seat, nuzzling his neck.
    “Oh, fantastic,” Summer muttered. “This day is getting weirder by the minute.”
    “I know this stuff with Sarah seems crazy … ,” Diana said.
    “Actually, I think it’s really sweet. In a demented sort of way. But even if we all pitch in, Diana, we aren’t exactly ready to be parents of the year. The last time you had a pet, you killed it.”
    “Sarah is not a turtle, and I promise I will not feed her Count Chocula till she explodes.”
    “What if her mom doesn’t come back?” Summer asked gently.
    “We’ll deal with that if it happens. Which it won’t. I hope.” Diana sighed. “It’s Christmas, Summer. We can’t let her be all alone on Christmas.”
    Diana could tell from Summer’s hesitation that she was buying into the idea. Her cousin was an easy touch when it came to Hallmark moments.
    “You’re right,” Summer finally agreed. “That would be awful. Okay, but just till Christmas, though. You really think her mother’ll come back?”
    “I’m positive.”
    “I can’t be much help because I’ve got to finish this paper. You think you can handle things?”
    “Oh, yeah. No sweat.”
    Summer gave a dubious smile. “I hope you’re right.” She put on her sunglasses and turned to go, then paused. “Listen, don’t forget to give Seth a call. He said maybe you guys could meet up at the boat parade tonight.”
    “Are we going to be okay with this? You and me and Seth?”
    “And the ghost of Christmas past,” Summer added.
    Diana looked away. “Let’s not talk about Christmases past, okay?” she said softly.
    Summer nodded. “I think things will go okay, Diana. If we all just lighten up about everything. Although to tell you the truth, I’ve never had to hang out with my ex-boyfriend before while he dated someone else.”
    “Looks like you’re about to,” Diana said, jerking her thumb toward Austin’s car.
    “Thanks for reminding me.”
    “You’ll be fine.”
    The front door opened. Sarah stood there, lamb in tow, waiting for Diana.
    “I wish I could say the same for you,” Summer said with a smile.
    Summer climbed into the backseat. Esme’s arm was draped around Austin’s neck.
    “Hi,” Summer said.
    “Hi,” Austin said.
    “Hey,” Esme said. She planted a kiss on Austin’s neck, leaving a lipstick shadow.
    “You smell good,” Austin said.
    “Thanks,” Summer said. Unfortunately, she said it at the same time Esme did.
    Well, duh, Summer chided herself. He wasn’t talking to you. You