Read A Girl Named Summer for Free Online

a driver’s license. The sports car was a sweet-sixteen present from her parents. That was ironic, Summer decided, for there wasn’t a darn thing sweet about Ann Logan.
    “Come on, Michael,” she snapped. She grabbed hold of his hand, sticky from the candy he had just finished, and propelled him across the street. Ann Logan had a knack for putting Summer in a rotten mood.
    “I don’t want to run,” Michael protested.
    “Sorry,” she replied when she realized Michael was stumbling to keep up. She abruptly changed the pace to match his short-legged stride. They entered thepark, dodging a couple of joggers as they made their way to the pool.
    The water was going to be cold, she realized, but she had worn her swimsuit under her jeans and T-shirt anyway. A good swim would be invigorating, and since running into Ann Logan, it would be just the thing to rid Summer of the huge knot of tension settling at the base of her neck. It galled her that the only reason Ann had invited her to the party was that she was sure Summer couldn’t get a date. It galled her, and it hurt.
    “Hi.” The deep voice shocked Summer and sent shivers of delight racing down her legs. It was David.
    “Hi!” she said. “What are you doing here?” As she spoke, she took in his appearance, hoping she wasn’t gaping. He was wearing navy blue, very official looking swim trunks. “You’re the swimming instructor, aren’t you?”
    “How’d you guess?”
    “My brother must be taking his lesson from you,” she all but stammered.
    It was too good to be true. She would get to see David every single day for the next two weeks.
    While she spoke, Michael had edged behind her legs, peering out and up at David with obvious suspicion. She glanced down and immediately took in his expression. Michael was definitely having second thoughts.
    She was about to drag him out from behind her when David squatted down, his face just inches fromher little brother’s. “Hi, there,” he said. “You ready to learn how to swim, buddy?”
    “No.” The one word was issued into the back of Summer’s kneecaps.
    “Well, then, come and sit beside me on the side of the pool. You don’t mind getting your feet wet, do you?”
    “Do I have to get my face wet?” Michael asked with a frown.
    “Not unless you want to,” he promised.
    Michael believed him. David looked up at Summer and winked. “Why don’t you come back in a half hour?” he suggested, and before either she or Michael could argue the point, David had taken Michael’s hand and was walking toward the pool.
    “He can’t swim at all,” she yelled, and then felt herself blush. She was sounding just like a mother hen!
    He nodded so that she knew he heard her. She waved and quickly turned to leave before Michael decided to make a scene.
    For the next half hour, she roamed the park. It seemed an eternity. She contemplated running home and changing into something more sophisticated. Or maybe she should let her hair out of the sloppy knot she had hurriedly twisted it into on top of her head, but she discarded the idea. David would know she was interested in making a good impression on him if she did that, and even she knew one simply didn’t act overly eager where boys were concerned. Regina said it scared them off.
    The pool area was crowded with mothers and children when she returned. David praised Michael a great deal in front of her, and her little brother positively glowed. His hair was plastered back from his face, indicating that he had gotten more than his feet wet.
    “It’s good that Mike is learning to swim early. It’s easier with his age group. The older ones get all uptight.”
    “Do you give group lessons, too?” she asked. “Or are they all individual lessons like Michael’s?”
    “He’s my only single,” David answered. “I have four groups.” He was so self-assured and confident, and there was a note of pride in his voice. “I fill in as a lifeguard some evenings.”
    “Is this