6 Beach Blanket Barbie Read Free Page B

beach, but once she revealed the identity of the individual on the receiving end of the gesture, I really hoped I’d misunderstood. The thought of Salinger in nothing but swim trunks left a sour taste in my mouth, and I hated to waste the lunch Ellie had prepared.
    “Yeah, he was in uniform. I think he was doing parking -lot patrol and noticed Barbie on the beach.”
    “Wow. Salinger and Barbie. She must have done something pretty serious to be willing to shack up with Salinger.”
    “What do you mean?” Ellie asked.
    “I mean, the only reason I can comprehend why Barbie would give Salinger the time of day would be if she’d gotten herself into big-time trouble and was using her wiles to convince him to give her a pass.”
    “Yeah, I guess I see your point.”
    “Uh-oh,” I gasped. “It looks like Barbie is headed our way.”
    “Hide the binoculars,” Ellie said, panicked.
    I looked around , but there was nowhere to hide them, so I tossed them into the garbage can near the table and hoped no one would toss anything really messy inside before we could retrieve them.
    “Well , if it isn’t the annoying duo,” Barbie greeted us. The woman hadn’t even bothered to slip on shorts or a wrap, and her bikini was about as small as a bikini could be.
    “What brings you to town?” I asked.
    “Business.”
    “ Will you be staying long?” Ellie inquired.
    “Long enough.” Barbie looked bored by the conversation. “I heard you have frozen drinks at your bar.”
    “We do,” Ellie confirmed. “What can I get you?”
    “Something with rum. Make it two.”
    Ellie walked over to the outdoor bar and gave Barbie’s order to the bartender.
    “So I heard your mom got knocked up,” Barbie said as she waited for her drink.
    “I have a new baby sister,” I answered as politely as I could.
    “A couple of people told me that your mom moved back to town to raise the kid.”
    “Yes,” I replied. “She did.”
    “Doesn’t that bug you?”
    Bug me? “Why would it bug me?” I asked.
    “Your old lady dumps you on your dad ’s doorstep like an unwanted kitten when you were a baby, but from what I’ve heard, she’s gone all maternal over little sis. Seems like it would sting a bit.”
    Actually , it did at times, but I’d never admit that to Barbie or anyone else. “No,” I responded. “It doesn’t bother me at all. I love Harper and am glad that my mom has decided to stay around to raise her.”
    “Your drinks should be right up,” Ellie interrupted , thank God.
    “ Nice rock,” Barbie commented on Ellie’s engagement ring.
    “Thank you ,” Ellie responded politely.
    “So when ’s the big day?” Barbie asked.
    “We haven’t set a date yet , but Rob and I are thinking that maybe sometime over the summer would be nice.”
    “You know what’ s funny?” Barbie got a distant look on her face. “A guy breaks up with a girl because he’s in love with someone else, but when the girl comes back to town, she finds out the someone else who broke the couple up is engaged to some totally random guy.”
    I nodded at Ellie not to say anything. I knew Barbie was right about the reason Levi broke up with her , and I also knew Ellie would deny it. Barbie and Ellie never had gotten along, and the last thing I needed was to have to break up a chick fight.
    “Your drinks are ready,” Ellie announced without responding to Barbie’s statement. “And they’re on the house.”
    “Thanks, that’s very nice.”
    Barbie took the drinks and returned to the beach. “What a witch,” Ellie commented as she walked away. “Do you think she was talking about me?”
    “You know she was.”
    “And do you think she’s right? Do you think Levi broke up with Barbie because of me?”
    I hesitated. Opening up that can of worms would be awkward, but I couldn’t very well lie to my best friend. “What do you think?” I asked instead of answering.
    Ellie got a distant look on her face , as if she was considering the idea.