Lisaâs chef, Cook, said. I had to ask him like three times if that was his real last name. He was very handsome. I donât know, he was like 30 or so. Definitely older than 25. He showed me a picture of his wife and two kids, a girl and a boy. They all lived on 96th Street on the West side. He was an all-natural celebrity chef. He couldnât stop smiling when I asked him how old his kids were and what they wanted to be when they grew up. He seemed like the kind of dad every dad should be like.
âWhat are you thinking about after school? Staying in New York or going to Paris?â Lisa asked.
âIt depends on what good colleges are in Paris,â I said.
Lisa laughed. âYou could be making $3 million a year. Why slow things with college? We have to strike while the ironâs hot.â
âBeauty and brains are a lethal pair,â I smiled. Inside, though, I wanted to wince at the sight of her throwing her head back in hysterics.
âWhat am I going to do with you?â Lisa said.
âHow about shopping this afternoon? I received an invite to the new MIX IT boutique premiere. Thereâs an after-party,â I said.
âOh, you know Stew loves Hamptons events. Iâm partied out for this weekend. But we can do something next weekend.â
âWant to get a bite?â Cara texted.
âCanât,â I texted.
âLater?â Cara texted
âNot sure of plans yet?â I texted
âLOL. Sounds like a Merek run. Does he taste as good as he looks?â Cara texted.
Gross! No wonder Frenchy and Cara got along so well. Both hot tamales.
âYouâre just like Demini, texting at the table. Chipmunk, your mahi mahi is getting cold!â Lisa said.
âSorry!â
âYou should sleep over. You know Demini, my niece from Florida, she will be out next week!â
âWhat part of Florida is she from?â
âDo you know, I think itâs somewhere over by Key West?â
âI have a good friend in Miami,â I said.
âGood, we have something booked for you toward the end of the month in Miami. You should stay a day extra and visit your friend.â
âSheâs in Paris for the summer with her mom,â I said.
âThatâs the way to do it. Maybe we can do a spa day next weekend with Demini.â
âIâm in.â
âDemini is going to take a summer writing class in the city in August. Sheâs not going to college. Instead, sheâs moving to Los Angeles this fall to get into the business,â Lisa said.
âShe sounds very fun!â I really had no idea what to think. I wasnât giving up college. I was gung ho about NYU. Mom went there. Daddy was a Dartmouth guy. Mama had dated another Dartmouth guy before Daddy. At first, she didnât even like my Dad. My mother happened to be visiting my grandmother the week she met my father.My grandmother told me she had to convince my mother not to be so narrow-minded. She coaxed her into answering his calls. And now look how he remembers Mama. He doesnât!
âDo you tweet?â Lisa asked.
âNo.â
âDo you have an account on Twitter, sweetheart?â
âYeah. MilanParkAve.â
âGreat. We have a new PR unit and we want to focus on you. They are launching social media campaigns for our top clients.â
âAs long as it doesnât involve me blogging. I donât want to write about what Iâm doing every day.â
âThey will take care of everything.â
âDessert is served at the window seat. Lemon meringue tarts with handmade strawberry ice cream. A pomegranate, blackberry, banana smoothie at your request,â Cook smiled at Lisa.
âThis is the best smoothie, sweetheart. A must try!â Lisa smiled.
âHow are things going?â Merek texted. I hadnât gotten back to him since he asked me to dinner.
âStill awake. Seriouslyâkind of fun,â I texted. The window
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