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"Dakota."

The boy turns from his place by his dresser to see Conrad by his door, "Sup, bro."

"Hey, uh.." He starts, "Is Liz okay? I'd ask her, but I don't want to start anything."

"Oh." He nods, "Yeah, she'll be alright. Just some girl drama."

Conrad nods, "Cool."

Dakota chuckles as he walks towards his door, "Cool?"

"You know what I meant bro." Conrad smiles as he follows Dakota down the stairs. Dakota makes his way toward a stool by Liz, while Conrad walks towards Jeremiah, "Yo, I'm gonna go wash the clams. Did you get the lighter fluid?"

"Mm." Jeremiah says as he puts his bowl down, "Yeah, it's already on the beach."

Conrad whistles as he walks out of the back door. Dakota sits next to Liz and grabs at her food. She smacks his hand as Susannah and Steven walk in. The boy rolling his eyes as he crosses his arms on the island.

"Are we done with the portrait yet?" Steven says as he opens the fridge

"Yeah, for today, but you do look good in a dress shirt, Steven." Susannah smiles, "Uh, which makes me think if Belly doesn't hurry up and ask Cam to that ball, you should take her."

Belly instantly frowns, "Ew. No way."

"No, no, no, yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm already going with Shayla." Steven says right as Laurel walks in

"To the debutante ball?"

"Yes."

"As an escort?"

"Wrap your head around it, Mom, all right?" He chuckles, "Shayla's coming today with Nicole and Gigi, so you'll meet her."

"That's wonderful." Susannah says, "Oh, and don't forget, Ms. Covington's first dance rehearsal is tomorrow, so, uh, tick-tock."

"I'm asking Cam today." Belly nods

"I don't know my kids anymore." Laurel mutters

Susannah eyes her before her eyes widen, "Wait, are you wearing makeup?"

"Yeah, she's wearing makeup." Dakota jokes as he looks over her face

"Oh, my... She definitely is." Steven says

"Ooh!"

"Mom!" Belly laughs

"So what? We're having a party." She says

"Mm-hmm. I'm sure it has nothing to do with John coming to the clam bake?" Susannah smiles teasingly causing Liz to laugh

"Oh, please. The husbands always come for the Fourth."

"He's not your husband anymore." Belly says as the room goes quiet. The twins eyebrows raise as they look elsewhere.

"Oops. Yeah." She chuckles, "Ex-husband."

"You know, I still don't understand why you invited Dad's girlfriend." Steven says

"Her name is Victoria, and your father wanted us all to meet her. Oh, Belly, I need you to make up the guest bed."

"Wait, Dad and Victoria are staying here?" Laurel nods while Belly grimaces, "In the room next to mine?"

"Yeah." Laurel says. Liz laughs when Belly groans at hits her head on the table. Jeremiah smiles at her.

"Oh, speaking of dads, yours called." Susannah points to Jeremiah, "He's closing a deal, so he can't come."

"What?" Jeremiah says as Conrad walks back in, "Did you say Dad's not coming?"

"Mm-hmm." Susannah hums as Conrad leans on the counter by the sink

"But I got some serious fireworks for the show this year." Jeremiah says

"We'll take a video."

"It's not the same." He mutters

"I know." She says. Dakota turns towards Conrad who seems to be in his own world while a small smile grazes his face.

"What're you smiling over there for?" Dakota asks. Liz looks over to see Conrad with a light smile.

"No reason." He says before he looks at Liz. She just looks back at him before looking down at her food.

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The kids gather by the door as they watch Belly and Steven's dad arrive with his girlfriend. The mom's stood outside to greet them. Dakota stares out of the window for a few seconds before nodding.

"She's hot." Dakota says

"Dude." Steven groans

"What? I'm just saying what everyone else is thinking." He scoffs

"I definitely wasn't thinking that." Liz says

"Yo, that could be their future stepmom." Conrad smirks. Steven pushes his shoulder, "Dude, what the hell? Don't push me." Conrad says as he goes to hit him back

"Guys, they're coming, they're coming." Jeremiah says as he rushes to the next room

"Ah!" Dakota exclaims as he and Liz rush to the living room

"Go, go, go, go, go." Steven says quietly

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"So, she has a crush on the guy that you've had a crush on for 500 years?" River says

She watches as Liz rolls her eyes, "I don't think it was on purpose. You can't control who you have feelings for."

"She knew how you felt, Liz. Everyone does. I would never even think about having a crush on a guy who you thought was even attractive." Liz sighs from the other end of the FaceTime. Her stress evident as she runs her fingers through her hair. River tilts her head, "Does Conrad know?"

"I don't think so. I think he just knows I left the party because I was upset."

"You left by yourself?"

"No, Dakota took me home."

"Oh, he's finally being nice to you after being a complete dick for your date?" River asks sarcastically

Liz chuckles, "You're more upset about that than I am."

"Because." River groans as her head falls in her hands, "He's such an asshole."

"I know, but it really wasn't that big of a deal." Liz shrugs

"It is though. I get that he's your brother, but that doesn't make it okay."

Liz smiles softly, "Well, I'm happy that you care so much."

"Duh. You're my best friend. I'm literally the best person in your life."

"Yeah, okay." Liz scoffs playfully causing River to roll her eyes.

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"You know, you shouldn't torture yourself."

Liz looks away from Conrad and Nicole toward her brother, "I'm not trying to."

"I know.." He nods, "but you are and as much as I love to annoy you, I don't like seeing you miserable."

Liz turns away to the other side of the pool. Dakota looked down at his feet in the pool and started to swing them. After a few seconds of silence, he turns to her again, "Lizzie, I swear to god." Dakota groans

"Sorry." She says as she looks down and away from Conrad when Dakota starts laughing.

She turns to Dakota who raises his brows, "If it comes down to it and he miraculously does have a crush on Belly, and he has to choose. Let him choose Belly. You deserve better than that."

Liz turns back to Nicole and Conrad. The two splash each other and laugh together. Liz groans as she tosses her head back. Dakota rubs her shoulder as he looks around, "Is River coming today?"

"No, her family is having a party down at the beach. I think she's coming over tomorrow though."

Dakota nods, "Cool."

"Cool?" Liz frowns

"What?"

"I'm actually shocked you even asked about her."

"Just curious." He shrugs

Liz watches him, "You know she actually asked about you."

Dakota turns toward her, "Actually?"

"Yeah." She nods, "I mean, she was calling you a dick, but-"

"Of course." He scoffs, "What did I even do to her?"

"You spilled her drink all over her shirt."

"That was like 30 years ago." Dakota says waving his arm around

"And then you mess with her any chance you get."

"It's a joke. I do it with everyone."

"Yeah, but there's something different about how you tease her. It's like you want her attention."

Dakota rolls her eyes, "No, I don't."

Liz hums as she looks around at everyone, "I don't know, Dakota. You've never shown this much interest, if any, in any of my other friends."

"Whatever." He mumbles causing Liz to giggle. Dakota's brows furrow as he becomes lost in thought.

There was no way he liked River. She was his little sister's annoying best friend. Who always had an opinion and didn't care to hear anyone else's. She only snapped at him and never had anything nice to say. She was the only person who seemed to snap back at him.

Everyone else seemed to go with the flow or joke along with him. Not River. And Dakota seemed to find amusement in that. He found himself looking forward to seeing and teasing her.

Dakota lets out a sigh as he looks up from the pool. Liz was still next to him, but in a conversation with Belly. He runs his fingers through his hair as his mind reels back over to River.

Did he like her?

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