Reality Check Read Free Page B

Hallie says, and I glare at her. “I'm just saying.”
    “Are you writing a book about small-town girls?” Keiran asks seriously. Hallie laughs so hard, she almost spits her drink out.
    “Who are you calling small-town?” Brooke pouts.
    Susan holds up her hands in peace and then clutches her stomach, laughing. “You four
are
funny together.” She studies us carefully. “And each one of you is more beautiful than the last. It's amazing.” She stares at us, not saying anything, and I find myself getting uncomfortable. “And this town”—Susan glances out the window and around the room—“is the cutest thing I have ever seen.”
    “It's dead,” Brooke deadpans, “if you haven't noticed.”
    “What she means is, come back in the summer,” Hallie interrupts. “The wineries are awesome and the antiquing can't be beat.”
    “When have you ever gone antiquing?” Brooke wants to know.
    Hallie blushes. “I haven't, but I've
heard
it's good.”
    “Have you all lived here a long time?” Susan asks.
    “Yeah,” Keiran says and I'm surprised to hear her speak to a stranger. “My dad is a fisherman, Hallie's parents own a dock and restaurant, Charlie's dad is a ferryboat captain, and Brooke's is…”
    “A local native too,” Brooke finishes with a bright smile. She can't stop staring at Susan's shoes. Are they Gucci?
    Susan smiles. “Well, I think this town is anything but dead, and believe me, I've seen a lot of towns and a lot of girls. Especially lately.” She frowns. “I think Cliffside is picturesque and completely charming, just like you four. Not that I'm surprised. Charlie talks very highly of the three of you and I already adore her.”
    Brooke elbows me. “Aww. Thanks, Charlie.”
    “There's something I wanted to talk to you all about now that I have you together,” Susan adds and pulls something from her pocket. It's a business card holder.
    She hands a card to each of us and I read the card carefully. susan strom, fire and ice network. executive director of creative programming .
    So this is what Susan does for a living? Why didn't she tell me? Her job must be beyond cool. Fire and Ice is like the new MTV. We just started getting the network on cable out here. They air more videos than MTV and also have a mix of reality and game show programming during prime time.
    “You work for Fire and Ice? That's so cool,” Hallie says in awe.
    “I love Peggy Pierce,” gushes Brooke. Peggy is the host of their video countdown show and Brooke so wants to be her. “She's like my idol.”
    “I can introduce you,” says Susan. “She'll be at a party we're throwing next weekend in the Hamptons. Next Saturday night. Would you girls like to come? As long as your parents approve, of course. They can come too. I'd love to meet them.”
    Meet our parents? Go to a major party? I thought Susan just said she didn't know the area. If that's true, then why is she having a party out here? I guess it is on the other fork, but still. My amateur journalist mind is spinning.
    “Us?” Brooke shrieks. “A Fire and Ice Party? We're so there.”
    “I can't,” Keiran says meekly. “I have to babysit.”
    “Kiki, cancel!” begs Hallie. “How often do you get the chance to go to a party with Peggy Pierce?”
    “She's right, Keiran,” says Susan. “You don't want to miss this. If you give me your numbers, I'll even call your parents personally.”
    “Um, geez, you're nice.” Hallie looks at her strangely. “Want to drive us there too?”
    Susan smiles. “I'll admit, I have an ulterior motive. Can I tell you girls a secret?”
    “Yes,” says Brooke, her breath short, but her answer quick.
    “I kind of lied before,” Susan admits and looks at me. “Especially to Charlie. I do know this area. I've vacationed here before, and I'm actually in town scouting a new TV show. I've been all over the country doing it and I've been let down everywhere I've gone.” She looks at me. “Except here.”
    “What kind of