Read Loving Summer (Loving Summer Series) for Free Online Page A

“I’ve been helping out there with some of the classes.”
                “I know,” Astor says. “I saw you. You were good in them. Listen, would you like to go for a walk?” He eyes the crowd of girls who were hanging around Drew, but who now seem to be eyeing him. “Maybe somewhere I’m not about to get mobbed? I mean, if you aren’t waiting around here for anyone?”
                My eyes seek out Nat almost automatically. He’s busy talking to Peterson. Rachel is off in a corner with Ryan, and as I watch, they kiss. Drew is… well, wherever he went with that girl.
                “Yes,” I say, offering him my hand. “I’d like that.”
                He takes my hand and we head out onto the beach. The stars are out by now, and it’s a beautiful night.
                “You know,” he says, “when you’re working at the acting academy, you really seem to connect with all those kids, and it looks like you’re having a lot of fun.”
                “Well, acting is fun,” I point out. Astor doesn’t look so sure. “You don’t enjoy it?”
                “I do,” he says, “but it’s kind of hard too. I’ve been in one hit show, and I’m filming for another, so I don’t really get any time off. All my friends are involved in the show, because I don’t really get time to visit my old friends, or they don’t understand what it’s like. There are days when I just want to be me , you know?”
                I think I understand. “That must be hard. Is that why you’ve come out here with me? To get away from all that at the party?”
                “No, I…” Astor pauses. “I was wondering if you’d like to go out with me one day. Maybe to Disneyland? I know it’s kind of a kids’ thing, but…”
                “I’d like that,” I say, cutting him off. It’s such a sweet, nice idea. Not the kind of thing I’d expect from some big time actor at all. Besides, he’s cute.
                Cute enough that when, a little further down the beach, he leans in to kiss me, I don’t stop him. It’s a slow, gentle kiss, and it’s obvious Astor wants the moment to last, because he draws it out a long time before pulling back from me. I smile at him.
                “That’s…”
               
     
    I stop as I hear a sound from some bushes nearby. Astor stops too, looking around when I do, just in time to see a girl stepping out of them, adjusting her skirt. It’s the girl who left the party with Drew. I think I know what’s going on, and when I see Drew coming out of the bushes, zipping his jeans, I know for sure.
                I can’t help the look of disgust that flickers over my face, because Drew shouldn’t just use girls like that. He shouldn’t. He obviously sees that look, because he steps closer to me.
                “Summer…”
                “Save it, Drew,” I say. “It’s not my business.”
                Astor puts an arm around me protectively, and I can see a bunch of emotions passing over Drew’s features. Guilt, anger, sadness. He reaches out to grab my hand.
                 “Summer, wait, I need to talk to you.”
                I shake my head. “We were just going back inside to enjoy the rest of the party, Drew. If you want to come along, then do it.”
                I start to pull away, but his grip on my hand is tight enough that I grimace. “Drew, that hurts.”
                “Let her go,” Astor says.
                Drew lets my hand drop. I don’t think it’s because of Astor, so much as simple shock at having hurt me. “I’m sorry, Summer, but I really need to talk to you. In private.”
                He says that with a pointed look at Astor. I look at him too and nod my head. “I’ll see you inside,