Chapter Three: What You Mean To Me

"That was fun," said Seth, waving to Ryan and Marissa's car as they drove off. Summer glanced at him and her look softened. It had been fun. They'd been relaxed and natural and it had almost been like the high school days, but for their three collective children.

"Yeah. It was," she said, moving in to him slightly.

Kaya watched her parents critically. She was fairly sure they were still in love, but displays of affection seemed few and far between. It had been different when she was younger. When the family had lived in a moderately sized mansion, instead of the colossus they now occupied. Seth had never been home after eight. Things had changed when Kirsten had retired and he'd become the CEO. Around the same time Summer had become a full time Newpsie and had begun to obsess over charity events and nose jobs. Or maybe just charity events. Nose jobs had always mattered to her.

The three of them wandered into the kitchen, at ease for once. Thankfully the maid had cleared out, and they had the house to themselves again.

"Were you swimming in your underwear?" asked Seth of his daughter. Kaya blushed. She'd forgotten how transparent the entire house was.

"And my bra," she said lightly. Summer snorted in attempt to hold back a laugh. Kaya flashed a secret smile at her mother.

"Around that Garrett kid? He's bad news," said Seth.

"'That Garrett kid'? You mean your nephew who you've known since the day he was born? And bad news? He's a Newport kid, what could he possibly come to?" asked Summer.

"He is Ryan's son," reminded Seth.

"Why does that matter?" asked Kaya curiously. Her parents laughed.

"Ryan caused some trouble for a while. You know Luke, Aunt Marissa's old boyfriend? They used to fight pretty much weekly," revealed Summer. Seth laughed at how badly she was downplaying the whole thing.

"Huh. Luke looks like a Ken doll," contributed Kaya.

"That's my girl," said Seth proudly.

"Luke turned out okay," said Summer.

"Yeah, eventually. Until he and Julie started…" said Seth. Summer elbowed him sharply. Kaya raised her eyebrows, but decided the best thing would be to say nothing.

"I need new shoes," she said instead. Seth rolled his eyes.

"Right, for cotillion. We'll go to South Coast tomorrow. Unless you want to go with Zannie?" asked Summer carefully. Kaya looked up and smiled at her mother. Despite the fact that she was a teenage girl, she and her mother had a mostly amicable relationship. Especially at South Coast Plaza.

"No, we should go," she assured her.

"I can't believe we have to go to cotillion," moaned Seth.

"Shut up, you're going. After all the planning that goes into this thing… Do you know that I don't yet have one white Knight, yet two dateless girls? I'm totally screwed," complained Summer.

"Garrett's dateless, but he'd never be caught dead as a white night," commented Kaya. Seth and Summer exchanged smiled behind their daughter's back

"How is Garrett dateless?" asked Summer.

"Garrett never has girlfriends. Just flings," clarified Kaya. She wandered off, leaving her parents by themselves.

"Flings. That kid couldn't have flings if they… jumped on him," said Seth.

"They probably do. He looks just like Ryan. And anyway, what do you know about flings? Who has there been, besides me?" asked Summer.

"Well there was Alex. And Anna. And the Vegas girl," said Seth.

"My point exactly. You know, I saw Zack last week. He's looking pretty fine," said Summer. Seth closed the gap between them and took her in his arms.

"You're a cruel woman, Summer Cohen," he said, leaning down to kiss her.

Kaya was still thinking about Garrett Atwood when she progressed upstairs. He was hot. He was his parent's best friend's son. Why couldn't she be in love with him? It would be so very convenient.

And it wasn't like he wasn't physically attractive. Because he was. Physically, she was very attracted to him. It was this that most likely triggered what they invariably did after parties that left them both drunk. And even occasionally in between, when either or both of them got bored. But Kaya knew she couldn't be with someone like Garrett, who would sleep with her when she wanted him but treat her like a sister the rest of the time.

Though watching her father's reaction would almost make it worthwhile.