LONDON IRVINE is the model Kook, born into privilege on the Outer Banks, where her father owns the island's top hotels. To the outside world, she appears to have it all-beauty, wealth, and charm. But beneath her polished exterior lies a girl torn be...
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As the family of three stepped into the house, their ears flooded with soft music and the murmur of polite conversation, London instinctively wanted to bolt. The room was full of fancy dressed adults, all lost in their social games, and all she could think about was escaping her parents' side, finding her friends and maybe sneaking a drink from one of the unsuspecting waiters weaving through the crowd. But she knew that wouldn't be happening immediately. Her mother would no doubt insist on parading her around, making her talk to family friends and acquaintances before she'd be allowed to do anything remotely enjoyable.
London felt like a well-dressed decoration, an accessory her mother could proudly show off to guests as she stood by, smiling politely but with her thoughts elsewhere. This wasn't where she wanted to be. She felt her mother's hand rest on her shoulder, gentle but firm, guiding her like a doll on display.
As they moved through the crowd, her mother chatting with acquaintances and occasionally gesturing toward her daughter, London did her best to scope out the room without being too obvious about it. She scanned faces, hoping to spot her best friend, Iris Davidson. The two of them had been inseparable for as long as she could remember, practically sisters. Their parents had been friends since college, and London and Iris had grown up side by side. Even though Iris didn't always agree with London's taste in friend, particularly her fascination with the Pogues—she supported her nonetheless.
As London's gaze roamed the room, she tugged discreetly at her father's sleeve. "Hey, Dad," she whispered, her eyes darting toward an older couple across the room. "There's Mr. Davidson and his wife." She tried to be subtle, but Theo saw right through it. He knew his daughter just wanted a way to sneak off and find Iris, her partner incrime for the evening. He looked down at her, and with a slight smile, nodded.
"Well, we should go say hello," he said, giving his wife a nudge and steering her in the Davidsons' direction. As they made their way over, he winked at London and gave her a discreet nod in the opposite direction, silently encouraging her to make a quick escape.
With a grateful smile, London slipped away, eyes scanning the crowd until she finally spotted Iris in the far corner of the room. Her friend's face lit up the second she saw London approaching, and she reached out, grabbing her hand and pulling her into a quick hug.
"Oh my god, thank you! I thought I'd never get away," London said as they moved farther from the their parents.
Iris laughed. "Tell me about it! I've been waiting here for, like, an hour. And guess what?" She reached into her bag and pulled out a handful of mini shot bottles, her grin growing mischievous.
"No way," London said, immediately grabbing one of the small bottles.
"Way," Iris replied, holding her own bottle up to her lips. London stopped her just before she took a drink.
