Free The Pleasures of Summer by Evie Hunter Page B

remarkably cheerful for someone who had spent the day hanging around waiting for them.
    ‘It was okay,’ Summer shrugged, ‘but I think I’m coming down with a migraine.’
    Flynn was all concern. ‘Do you need medication?’
    ‘No. I’ve got some at home.’
    ‘It’s such a pity you’ll miss the show,’ Molly said.
    ‘What show?’ Flynn asked, darting a suspicious look at Summer.
    ‘Robert called. He has tickets for the theatre –
Phantom
. He’ll be so disappointed that you can’t come with us.’
    Summer did her best to look disappointed. ‘I’ll have an early night. I’m sure I’ll be fine tomorrow.’
    Back at the house, she picked at her dinner silently before disappearing up to her room. She pulled the heavy drapes across the window and hurried into the bathroom to try on the clothes that Molly had bought for her.
    Sweet mother of god! It was lingerie! But not like any she had ever worn. The electric blue latex tube was designed to cover her butt or her boobs, but not both simultaneously. She would be more decently covered in a swimsuit. Summer tipped the contents of the bag onto the floor. Hold-up stockings and some leather cuffs with studs. There was a length of silver-coloured chain with a clip on one end like a dog leash. And a tube of her favourite lipstick, called ‘Vamp’.
    Summer carefully applied her make-up, paying particular attention to her eyes. The girl who stared back at her looked as if she belonged in a fetish club, even if she was shaking inside. Hearing a knock on the bedroom door, Summer hastily pulled on a bathrobe. She was relieved when it turned out to be Molly, already wearing her coat.
    ‘Well what do you think?’
    Summer slipped off the robe and adjusted the dress, trying to cover her nipples. ‘I think I’ve worn more clothes to the beach.’
    ‘Oh don’t be silly. You’ll be wearing more than anyone else there. It’s sexy, but modest.’
    ‘Modest? I’d hate to see your idea of outrageous,’ she muttered. ‘Where is Flynn?’
    ‘He’s downstairs watching TV. I’ve told him that you usually sleep for hours when you have a headache and that I’d check on you before I went. Robert’s already moved the car to the front of the house and he’ll distract Flynn while we leave.’
    They giggled as they tucked the pillows beneath the sheets until they had a body-like figure. Summer produced a handful of hair extensions from the bag she had brought from the salon and put them on the pillow. ‘I knew they’d be useful for something.’
    ‘Let’s go,’ Molly said. She opened the bedroom door and peeked down the corridor. They could hear the latest Wii battle going on downstairs and Robert’s voice.
    They tiptoed down the stairs and opened the front door. The car was parked outside. ‘Get in and stay down. I’ll fetch Robert.’
    Heart racing, Summer slid into the back seat and lay down. If she was caught now, Flynn would have a fit. She heard the door opening again and the crunch of gravel underfoot.
    ‘Please don’t let it be Flynn.’ She could just imagine his expression if he caught her wearing nothing but a trench coat and underwear.
    The car doors opened and Robert and Molly climbed in. Summer didn’t stop shaking until they were out on the open road.
    ‘You can sit up now.’ She could hear the amusement in Robert’s tone. ‘I don’t think I’ve had quite so much fun since I smuggled an ostrich into Eton.’
    ‘An ostrich?’ Molly giggled. ‘Why an ostrich?’
    ‘Because it was the most outrageous thing I could think of at the time. I was fifteen,’ he added. He glanced in the rear view mirror. ‘Open your coat, Summer. Let me see you.’
    Summer moved instinctively to obey him and then stopped. She wasn’t sure if the dress had stayed in place while she was lying down and there was something weird about flashing her boobs at her best friend’s guy.
    ‘Behave.’ Molly gave him a mock slap. ‘You can be so bad.’
    ‘Of course, my