Melissa’s mother comes out to check on the girls

A woman stepped out through the patio door, sliding it shut behind her. “Lissa?” She called. “Do you girls want some drinks?”

Kyle pushed himself up onto his elbows. The feeling of his breasts being pulled on by gravity was just too weird. The woman was attractive, in her 40’s, and obviously took care of herself. She was in shape, with shoulder length chestnut hair and a smile that would melt ice.

The woman put her hand over her eyes, visor-like and peered at Kyle. “And who’s this pretty thing that has joined your group, Lissa?” Kyle wanted the earth to swallow him up, blushing furiously.

“This is Kylie, she’s spending the summer with her uncle, Mr Gladstone. He didn’t want her to be cooped up in the house all summer, so we invited her and her brother,” Melissa made a dismissive gesture to the boys and the video game, “Sam over to hang out and introduce them around.”

The girls and Kyle stood at that point. Melissa’s mom came over and hugged Kyle. He wasn’t sure how to react to it, so he just awkwardly stiffened a little. “It’s very nice to meet you, Kylie. You’re welcome here anytime. I’m Theresa. If you need anything, just ask.”

“Uh... thanks?” Kyle said. The girls returned to their towels, and Kyle slowly did as well.

“Ok,” Theresa said. “Diet drinks, girls?”

Kyle hated the thought of diet anything, but the other girls seemed ok with it, and he didn’t want to rock the boat or draw attention to himself again.

Theresa went back into the house and returned a few minutes later with a tray of drinks and a pair of oversized sunglasses. The girls (and Kyle) got up and moved to the shaded patio where Theresa handed them all a diet soda. Everyone took a seat and crossed their legs, Kyle taking a moment to realize that he should do that too.

“Here, Kylie,” Theresa said, passing the sunglasses to him. “You shouldn’t be squinting like that. Crow’s feet.” She winked.

Sighing, realizing he actually wished he did have sunglasses, Kyle accepted them and put them on.

“Gorge!” Robin said, winking at him.

“Not too much sun, girls,” Theresa said. “You don’t want to burn or get leathery. And you all know about SPF in your makeup?”

The girls all mummured their acknowledgment of that and Theresa smiled. “And you, Kylie, you skin is gorgeous. You do take care of it, don’t you?”

“Uh...” again, Kyle was not prepared for any of this conversation.

Theresa frowned a little. “Well, Lissa here knows all about skin care. She’ll teach you everything you should be doing.”

Theresa stood. “Now to go see what the boys want to eat. They’re always hungry! It was very nice to meet you, Kylie, although I’m sure you’ll be around often! Have fun girls!” She went back inside through the patio door.

“Don’t get mad at her,” Melissa said, putting her hand on Kyle’s. “She’s a big shot at a Catholic Finishing School. She means well.”

“It’s OK,” Kyle said, not really caring what Theresa had to say. “I’m not hung up on skin care or anything.”

“Don’t let Theresa hear you say that,” Darla said, laughing. And Kyle loved it when she laughed. “She’ll have you at her vanity extolling the virtues of every cosmetic she owns. But you should be at least a little careful with your skin, Kylie. You don’t want to age prematurely.”

Robin piped in, “The way I see it, tomorrow we need to get Kylie some bikinis, sunglasses, start her on a skin care regimen... what else?”

“Does it matter?” Melissa said, laughing, “we’ll just spend the day shopping!”

Kyle did not like the sound of that. “Uh... I’m not sure I can afford any of that,” he quickly said, trying to put the brakes on things.

“Oh, not to worry,” Robin said with a dismissive flick of her wrist. “Daddy’s a Doctor. And we have at our disposal...” she looked at the other girls and the all smiled and said in unison, “A PLATINUM CARD!”

“Let’s say, 11 AM?” Darla said. “Kylie, I’ll pick you up first, then we’ll grab the other girls. That way we have the day ahead of us, and can sleep in a little.”

“Great!” Kyle said, trying to feign excitement.

“Kylie! It’ll be fun!” Robin said. “Besides, you need some stuff, and we’ll help you get it!”

“Ok, OK,” Kyle said, defeated. It looked like he was stuck spending another day as Kylie now.

The girls started drinking their sodas. Kyle made a face when he tried his. “You don’t like it?” Darla asked.

“No, it’s fine,” Kyle said, **** down a few more swallows. “I just like the non-diet.”

“Horrible for your figure, though,” Melissa said with a wink.

The girls (and Kyle) finished their drinks and returned to sunbathing, with the occasional lecture to kyle about caring for his skin and the passing around of sunscreen.

Kyle started to doze when he heard a camera shutter click. Robin has her phone and taking pictures of Kyle. She tapped on her phone a few times. “Aaaand.... done. Our new bestie! Group shot!”

“Uh...”Kyle was curious about what just happened, but he was hauled to his feet and the girls all huddled around him. Robin snapped a few selfies and again started taping on her phone. “There. Didn’t even use a filter,” she said.

“So what was...” Kyle started.

Darla hip checked him playfully. “Instagram. Gotta keep the fans happy!” She said.

Robin, still typing away at her phone, said without looking up, “What’s your Instagram ID, Kylie?”

“I don’t have one,” Kyle sheepishly admitted. Melissa lowered her sunglasses down her nose and stared at Kyle, mouth agape. “Girl, that needs to change, right now. Where’s your phone?”

“Back at the house,” Kyle said.

“And Facebook? I can’t find you on there...” Darla said, typing away on her phone, too.

“I’m not on Facebook, either,” Kyle said. Which, technically, was true. Kylie was not on Facebook...

“But we saw you on your laptop!” Robin said.

“Oh, I wasn’t on Facebook!” Kyle said. “I was trying to... fix something”

“Your laptop is acting up? Eli’s a computer whiz! He can get it working again, I’m sure!” Darla said. “We’ll ask him once they finish.”

“So tomorrow, remember your phone so we can get you on Instagram and Facebook!” Robin said. “That way we can tag you in pictures!”

Kyle was horrified. In one afternoon, he’d been roped into shopping for bikinis and god knows what else, promised the development of a skin care routine, having social media accounts made for him... what else could go wrong?

There was a shout inside, and Eli was raising his hands in triumph. “Looks like the game finished,” Melissa said.

The boys slid open the patio door and came out, sitting in the patio chairs while the girls (and Kyle) lounged on their towels.