Free Love the One You're With by Cecily von Ziegesar

floor.
    “You guys are so funny.” Layla laughed at their sisterly banter. “Sometimes I wish I weren’t an only child.” She smiled at
     Baby. “Ready?”
    “You sure you don’t want to come, Ave?” Baby asked.
    “No thanks.” Avery finished off her champagne. Horses were dirty and smelly. Not her idea of a tropical getaway.
    “Fine.” Baby stuck out her tongue and followed Layla out the door.
    Avery poured another glass of champagne and walked around the villa. She carefully pulled her clothes out of her suitcase,
     shaking them slightly. Unlike Baby, neatness was important to her. Before she could even think about exploring, she needed
     to have bathing suits in one drawer, tank tops in another, and dresses hung in the expansive walk-in closet.
    Once her sandals were neatly arranged in the closet, her bathing suits stacked according to their appropriateness for the
     beach versus the pool, and the champagne half-gone, Avery felt like she was
really
on vacation. She pulled a billowy magenta Calypso dress over her head and smiled at the mirror in satisfaction. It was the
     type of dress that looked shapeless on the hanger but amazing on. Especially since she’d sneaked in a scrub and color appointment
     at Bliss early this morning, and her skin already had a summery-bronze glow.
    She stepped onto the balcony, still holding her champagne glass. There was a soft breeze, and in the distance she could make
     out the thatched roofs of other villas. But it felt extremely private where they were, as if they were marooned on a totally
     fabulous tropical island. Manhattan seemed very far away.
    “Hey!”
    Avery whirled around. Standing there, wearing a white linen button-down shirt and khaki shorts, was Rhys, Ray-Ban aviators
     on his head.
    “Hi.” Avery bit her coral-colored lip, suddenly shy. She gripped the hand railing.
    “Owen went for a run and Riley went horseback riding or something,” Rhys explained. “I stuck around unpacking. Besides, I
     sort of like to forget the exercise routine when I’m on vacation.” He shrugged. “What are you up to?”
    “I don’t know.” Avery cringed. Another brilliant line. “Want a glass?” She held up her own empty glass. Oops. When did that
     happen?
    Somewhere in between stacking sandals and color-coding camis.
    “I’m okay. We opened our champagne too.” Rhys smiled and rested his hands against the deck railing. “You know, I totally owe
     your brother. If he hadn’t invited me, I’d be foxhunting right now.”
    “Really?” Avery giggled. She knew Rhys’s parents were British, but
foxhunting
? Actually, after watching
Tea with Lady Sterling,
she could sort of believe it. Most of the time, the show was over-the-top, even for her. But her stomach leapt every time
     Lady Sterling mentioned Rhys’s name.
    “Actually, it’s brutal. A bit worse for the foxes, though,” Rhys allowed. “What about you? Do you guys have any weird family
     traditions?”
    “Not really,” Avery lied. She was
not
going to talk about how her mom used to make the triplets recite poetry or do weird interpretive dances at her dinner parties.
    “Your whole family seems so cool,” Rhys continued. “You’re lucky. I always wanted a brother or sister.” He shrugged, and Avery
     followed his gaze out to the ocean, wanting to see what he was seeing. She could just make out tiny boats bobbing on the robin’s
     egg blue ocean. It was the exact color of a Tiffany box. It almost didn’t look real.
    “It’s so beautiful,” Avery murmured.
    “Want to go for a walk and explore? I haven’t been to the beach in forever, unless you count Bournemouth, which I don’t.”
     Rhys rolled his eyes.
    “Sure.” Avery smiled.
    “Here.” He held her arm as he helped her down the limestone steps that led from the terrace down a hillside and toward the
     beach. He pulled his sunglasses over his eyes. “Which way?”
    “Left,” Avery decided. The sun was setting to the left, casting a