Cruel Summer by Kylie Adams Read Free Book Online Page A

protested lightly. “I thought your perverted uncles over there were feeding you tonight.”
    Shoshanna rolled her eyes. “They like the beef teriyaki. Guys in finance can be so lame.”
    “So ditch those losers and eat with us,” Max suggested.
    “They rented a stretch Hummer for the night. No way I’m missing that,” Shoshanna said. And then she strutted back to her booth.
    Christina reached out for a sushi roll, and just as she claimed possession of it, her cellular blasted to life. Exactly as she predicted. Her mother was tracking her down. But unlike Pippa, she couldn’t simply ignore the call. Pulling that kind of stunt would risk a missing persons report and a police search. “Hi, Mom.”
    “Where the hell are you?” Paulina raged.
    “I’m at a restaurant with some friends,” Christina said innocently. “I left a note on—”
    “You don’t just go out at night without talking to me first,” Paulina cut in angrily. “Get your ass home right now.”
    “But we’re just about to eat,” Christina pleaded.
    “I don’t care,” Paulina snapped. “If you don’t come home this instant, you’ll lose car privileges for the rest of the month.” Click.
    Christina felt the fire of humiliation burn once again—first the crack about her flat chest, now the party-killing intervention of her overprotective mother. Wow. Awesome night out. “I have to go,” she grumbled miserably.
    Max pulled a face. “Shit, JAP, we were just getting things started.”
    “I know, but my mom is already threatening terrible things, so…”
    “You shouldn’t have picked up,” Max told her.
    “I can’t believe she’s making you go home,” Pippa put in. “What a bitch!”
    Christina didn’t appreciate the fact that Pippa could so casually call her mother a bitch, especially since she’d never met her.
    “Call her back and let me talk to her,” Max said. “I’m good with parents.” He grinned. “Parents love me.”
    Pippa gave him a strange look. “You’re all about a quick shag. Why would parents love you?”
    Max hesitated, his lips curled in amusement. “They don’t stay in love with me. They love me before the hit and run.” Suddenly, Max grabbed Christina’s Sidekick and proceeded to redial the number to the last incoming call.
    Christina reached out to snatch it back, but Max twisted beyond her reach, beaming a mischievous smile.
    “Yes, Mrs. Perez, this is Max Biaggi Jr. I’m a friend of Christina’s. How are you tonight?”
    Pippa giggled.
    Christina buried her face in her hands. This would only make things worse. She just knew it.
    “I’ve been keeping up with your precampaign activities,” Max went on. “You know, my father would really appreciate your stand on the issues. A lot of people don’t know this, but he’s very conservative…oh, yes, very much so…he only stays closeted to keep those Hollywood liberals happy…I’ll nudge him to consider a contribution…no, I’m happy to do it…of course, the real reason for my call is to convince you to let Christina stay with us at least through dinner…okay, I’ll tell her.” Suddenly, he returned the phone, an odd expression on his face.
    Christina put it back in her purse. “What did she say?”
    “To stop blowing smoke up her ass and to tell you to drive carefully,” Max said.
    Pippa howled. “That’s one mum who didn’t love you at the first hello.”
    “Oh, well,” Max said easily. “More kissing rolls for us, I guess.” And then, using his chopsticks, he proceeded to feed Pippa sushi.
    Christina rose up to leave.
    “This sucks!” Pippa announced, her mouth full. “Why won’t she let you stay?”
    Max gave Christina a pained look. “I tried, JAP. But your mom’s tough. I’ll crack her, though. Just wait. Next time I’ll bring my A game, and she won’t know what hit her.”
    Christina waved good-bye as Max and Pippa continued feeding each other. And she wasn’t even out of the restaurant when her Sidekick