Temptation Read Online Free Page A

any windows,” her mother wailed. “It’s so stuffy in here, April. The house has been closed up all winter. At least you could open the windows and let some fresh air in.”
    â€œShe can’t get up,” Whitney said, pushing April’s head against the straw mat.
    â€œYou girls are old enough to help too,” Mrs. Blair said, hoisting the shopping bags.
    â€œNo, we’re not. We’re only six,” Courtney insisted.
    â€œYou have a smart mouth, young lady,” their mother said, exasperated.
    â€œSo do I!” insisted Whitney. “I’m smart too.”
    Mrs. Blair laughed. “Get up and help your father unload the car. You know, we didn’t come all the way from Shadyside to roll around on a dusty floor. The sooner we get unpacked, the sooner we can get to the beach.”
    Whitney gave April a final push and jumped to her feet. “Let’s go to the beach now,” she demanded.
    â€œYeah!” echoed her twin, tugging April’s hand, trying to pull her to her feet.
    April groaned and stood up. “I’m going to need a vacation after a summer with these two!” she declared, dusting off her tennis shorts and sleeveless top, which had started out white but were now gray and streaked with dirt.
    â€œOh, I imagine you’ll be spending all of your time with Matt,” her mother called from the back bedroom. “We won’t see you all summer—as usual.”
    â€œLet’s go to the beach,” Courtney demanded, tugging on April’s hand.
    â€œOw!” April broke away from her little sister and hurried to the back bedroom to confront her mother. “Don’t start in about Matt,” she said heatedly. She blew a strand of straight honey blond hair off her forehead.
    â€œI didn’t say a word about Matt,” Mrs. Blair said defensively. “It’s just that—”
    â€œJust that what ?” April demanded. “Go ahead. Say it.”
    â€œIt’s just that I thought we’d have a nice family vacation,” her mother said, avoiding April’s stare as she made the bed. “And that maybe you’d meet a bunch of nice new kids here at Sandy Hollow. Instead of hanging around with the same kids you hang around with back in Shadyside.”
    â€œYou mean Matt and Todd,” April said angrily.
    â€œCalm down. Sshh,” Mrs. Blair said, raising a finger to her lips. “I guess I was disappointed that Matt and his family decided to summer here again.”
    â€œWhat’s wrong with Matt?” April demanded, unable to calm down. “We’ve been going together more than a year, and—”
    â€œApril—we’ve had this discussion before,” her mother said with a hint of weariness in her voice. “Matt is perfectly okay. He’s very nice, actually. Especially compared to a lot of the boys you’ve brought home.”
    â€œGee, thanks,” April said sarcastically.
    â€œIt’s just that he’s—well, you know, a little immature for you, don’t you think? I mean, he’s only interested in sports, video games, and horror movies. Don’t you think you should look around? Find someone with more intelligent interests? I mean—”
    â€œYou’re right, Mom,” April said curtly. “We’ve had this discussion before.” She turned and strode quickly from the room.
    â€œApril—where are you going?” Mrs. Blair called after her, realizing she had gone too far, said too much.
    â€œTo help Dad,” April called back from the hallway. And then peevishly added: “That’s what you wanted— isn’t it?”
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    April spent the rest of the afternoon helping her parents. There was so much to do at the summer house—unloading the car, unpacking all the bags, airing out the stuffy rooms, cleaning the house,