South beach by Aimee Friedman Read Free Book Online

elderly man stepped out into the hall, and reached for the knob on the bathroom door. Had Alexa even locked it? Holly jumped up, ready to warn her, but she was too late. She heard Alexa emit an ear-piercing scream.
    "Grandma Ida, there's a strange man in here!" Holly cried, pointing. The man apologized to Alexa, shut the door, and hurried into the living room, clearly embarrassed.
    Ida came running in from the kitchen. "What's all this?" she exclaimed. Then, to Holly's surprise, she went up to the man and kissed him on the cheek. She turned to Holly, beaming.
    "Holly, pancake, meet my special friend, Miles. Miles, this is my beautiful granddaughter, Holly. And I guess you've already met her friend, Alexa."
    Miles was a handsome, seventy-ish, African-American man, with a close-cropped white beard and bright brown eyes. He wore a button-down Hawaiian shirt and Bermuda shorts. He tipped his baseball cap to Holly.
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    Holly stared back at him, wide-eyed. Grandma Ida had a boyfriend?
    Ida's phone rang again, and Miles headed for it.
    "That'll be Ruthie and Harry, wondering why we're late for canasta," Miles said to Ida over his shoulder. "And don't forget about bingo tonight, sweetie."
    "Right," Ida said, looking frazzled. She turned to Holly. "So, bubeleh, can I get you some lemonade before Miles and I take off?"
    "Uh ... sure," Holly said, distracted. She was still trying to process someone calling her grandmother "sweetie." Holly's grandfather had died before she was born, so she'd always known Grandma Ida as single. Now, the fact that her grandmother apparently had better luck with guys than she did was making Holly feel just shy of pathetic.
    Alexa emerged from the bathroom, still in her outfit from the plane, her lips set in a line. She wished she'd thought to lock the door. No way was she changing in that bathroom now -- that old man barging in on her had totally killed her sexy vibe. Alexa walked over to Holly and Ida, and forced herself to smile as they explained to her that Miles wasn't a random stalker.
    "That's good. Oh, Ida?" Alexa asked sweetly. "Where will Holly and I be sleeping? Can I change in there instead?"
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    Ida wrung her hands, her bracelets jangling. "Miles has sort of... spread out in the apartment," she explained. "A lot of his clothes and things are in the spare bedroom. Anyway, I thought you girls might be more comfortable sleeping right here on the pullout couch." She pointed to the sofa, then she bustled off to the kitchen again.
    Alexa looked at Holly, horrified. Not only did they have to share a pullout, but they'd be stuck in the chaotic, crowded living room? Miles was hollering into the phone, and the parakeet was squawking. This would be a nightmare.
    "I know," Holly muttered. She shrugged. "There's nothing I can do."
    But maybe there's something I can do, Alexa thought. Ida came toward them carrying two glasses of lemonade, and Alexa studied Holly's grandmother carefully. It was obvious that Ida had a rocking social life, and didn't really need Holly and Alexa around. Alexa wondered if she could turn this situation to her advantage.
    Ida handed the girls their lemonades, and motioned for them to sit on the sofa. She sat across from them in a lilac armchair.
    Holly took a big gulp of lemonade. "This is ... nice," she lied.
    "Yes, thank you, Ida," Alexa gushed. "I hope we aren't imposing. Are you sure we're not in your way?"
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    "Not at all!" Ida said. "The more the merrier."
    Miles hung up the phone and emerged from the kitchen. As he crossed the living room, he tripped over Alexa's open carry-on bag, but caught himself before he fell. Alexa and Holly gasped at the same time.
    "Careful, honey!" Ida cried, leaping up.
    "I'm okay," Miles said, looking humiliated again. Then he rushed out of the living room and back into Ida's bedroom.
    Ida sat down and drew a deep breath, adjusting her sarong around her waist. "Well," she said, as if nothing had happened, "what kind of mischief are you girls