South beach by Aimee Friedman Read Free Book Online Page A

cooking up for your stay in Miami?"
    "Not much," Holly started to say -- they had not, in fact, discussed any plans -- but Alexa cut her off.
    "We're going to be so busy," Alexa said, widening her pale blue eyes for dramatic effect. "We'll probably be in and out of the apartment a lot."
    "Oh?" Ida tilted her head thoughtfully. "Well, that's fine. Miles and I aren't at home very much ourselves during the day."
    Alexa nodded. "I meant at night. I love to stay out late dancing."
    Uh-oh, Holly thought. She couldn't picture herself going out on the town with Alexa.
    Ida twinkled merrily at Alexa. "You've come to the right place. Miami's full of discos. That scene's not
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    quite for me anymore. But when I was your age ..." Ida trailed off, looking misty-eyed. "I was quite the mover and shaker."
    Alexa grinned. "Give me a crowded dance floor and a thumping rhythm and I'm in heaven," she said. It was true; she was in her element when dancing.
    Ida held Alexa's gaze. "It's funny, dear. You remind me a bit of myself at your age."
    Holly coughed, feeling a little jealous. Wasn't Grandma Ida supposed to say that sort of thing to her, not Alexa?
    "But I hope we won't disturb you," Alexa was saying earnestly. "Like if we're coming in after midnight in our stilettos ..." She leaned forward and stared at Ida, her expression concerned.
    Holly shot Alexa a bewildered glance. She didn't even own stilettos.
    "Me, I could sleep through a hurricane and I have," Ida mused. "But Miles is a light sleeper...." She tapped her finger to her upper lip, clearly considering Alexa's words.
    "I'd hate for us to be a burden," Alexa added, laying it on thick.
    A slow smile of understanding bloomed on Ida's face. "You two angels could never be a burden," she said. Then she paused. "Still, I want you to have the best possible time on your school break. And I am a
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    little worried that we might get on each other's nerves four people crammed in this little apartment ..." She winked at Alexa.
    Alexa latched on to this notion immediately. "Oh, I know! There's nothing like sharing a small space to make people despise each other." She winked back at Ida.
    "We don't want that," Ida asserted, shaking her head.
    Alexa held her breath, barely believing their luck. Ida totally got it. She didn't want the girls staying with her any more than they wanted to be there!
    Holly glanced from her grandmother to Alexa, and felt a twinge of worry. Did Alexa want them to leave Grandma Ida's? That couldn't happen. Staying here was the most important part of their plan. Her parents wouldn't stand for anything else.
    Alexa sighed. "Ida, we would love to stay with you, but maybe it would be best for everyone if we crashed somewhere else. At least for a little while?"
    "We -- we can't go somewhere else!" Holly jumped in, panicked.
    Ida chuckled and leaned over to squeeze Holly's knee. "Listen, honey cake. If you and Alexa do decide to go someplace else, we'll still be able to see each other. You can still come over for dinner " she gave Alexa a secret smile -- "or cocktails! Any time you like."
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    "But Mom and Dad ..." Holly trailed off in desperation.
    "We don't have to tell your parents, do we?" Ida asked. "They can call you on your cell phone if they want to reach you. And if they ever call here, I'll just tell them you're at the beach!"
    "You're a genius," Alexa declared, gazing at Ida with sincere admiration.
    "And you're a girl after my own heart," Ida said, leaning over to pat Alexa's hand.
    "Urn, hold on," Holly said, interrupting their little love fest. "Where else could we even stay?"
    "A luxury hotel in South Beach, silly!" Alexa said, springing up and walking over to her carry-on bag. She pulled out her new Time Out guide to Miami and started turning the pages. "There are tons of them. The Delano, the Shore Club, Mercury ..."Alexa knew she belonged in a swanky place like that. She could see herself strolling into a dazzling hotel lobby, wearing her new strapless