Or, well, almost impossible. “I’m sure I’m so mad for a lot of things you wrote about me, but I can’t remember what they are right now, so I will detail them in a list later on.”

Ben leaned over and kissed my shoulder supportively, and Emma said, “Gag.”

Alice clapped. “Guys! This is going to be so great! Julie can do an exposé on this!”

“Yes!” Merit said. “I can see the headline: ‘Does the Mommune Turn Boys to a Life of Social Media Crime?’ ”

Everyone laughed.

“All right, all right,” Julie said. “You are all so lucky to have me. I keep you cultured and informed.”

“But you guys can’t tell anyone,” Merit said.

“You’re trusting a group of this many people to keep your secret?” Ben asked.

“Not people,” Merit said. “Family.” He looked at all of us. “You can’t tell! Beach house rules!”

“Beach house rules,” we all said in unison.

He looked over at me, and I winked at him. Beach house rules, I mouthed again. I could keep his secret as long as he wanted me to. Because that’s what best friends did. No, that’s what family did.

I’d never been a part of a big family. It wasn’t something I ever thought I’d have. But now, here, in this sleepy, gossipy little town with its beautiful houses, Botoxed socialites, and bronzed teenagers, I had found everything I never knew I wanted. People could complain about their moms and dads embarrassing them, their siblings getting on their nerves, but the past few months had given me a gift, a secret, a look into an inner world that I never would have had otherwise. And from all that, I had learned a lesson that it might take my friends years to understand: forced family fun was the very best kind.

JUNIPER SHORES SOCIALITE

@junipershoressocialite

Sharing bad behavior and delicious drama in North Carolina’s most exclusive coastal zip code. DM with tips, pics, and juicy deets.

DECEMBER 23, 9:08 A.M.

97 Posts

16,402 Followers

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You didn’t hear it from me, but…

PIC 1: Which Juniper Shores B&B is hosting one of TV’s most famous personalities, far from the mean streets of New York City, for a refined New Year’s Eve by the shore? Rumor has it that the whole gang will be in attendance for the oceanfront New Year’s Splash and Bash to support Juniper Shores Prep. If you thought Belle Epoque at the Beach was scandalous, just wait. This event is casual. When the high heels and bow ties are off, so are all bets.

PIC 2: One Laura Lucas was spotted at the end of Juniper Park Road with the golf pro who, we might add, as Juniper Shores Country Club president, she hired. Was it for his great résumé? Or his great abs? We hope for Paul Lucas’s sake, this one is a swing and a miss.