Acting Up Read Online Free PDF Page A

ground in front of her and propped his chin up with his hands. “What’s a celebrity?”
    â€œSomeone who’s famous. Like an actor on TV or in movies.”
    â€œLike Dora?”
    â€œShe’s a cartoon character.”
    Carson dropped down next to his brother. “Nuh-huh. She’s real. Daddy took us to a show last year, and she was on stage and everything.”
    â€œRight. I’m talking about human famous people.”
    Carson nodded. “So you know ‘em? Famous people?”
    Addison leaned toward them. “Can you two keep a secret?”
    Their blond heads bobbed like those weird little dolls.
    â€œI’m sort of a celebrity myself.”
    Jason popped back up. “No kiddin’? Who are you?”
    â€œMy name is Addison. I was on a TV show.”
    â€œWhat show?” Carson asked.
    â€œIt’s called House of Fashion .”
    Their eyes widened like saucers. “Gamma watches it every week,” Jason announced. “You’re the mean lady!”
    The mean lady . Pretty much summed up her entire career in a nutshell.
    â€œYou don’t look mean,” Carson said.
    Jason nodded his agreement. “You’re pretty. Like a princess.”
    She ruffled his hair. “No one’s called me a princess in years. At least not as a compliment.”
    He grinned. “Daddy says we’re pistols.”
    â€œI don’t doubt it.”
    Something about their innocence made her heart suddenly lighter. Addison had risen early to visit her aunt and meet with the doctors, and the update had been disheartening. The upshot was Aunt Ruth would be in the hospital for another week before being moved to a rehab facility for therapy. Which meant Addison had the place to herself for the foreseeable future. Even though she should’ve been grateful for the solitude, the thought of rambling around her aunt’s house alone was depressing.
    â€œWere you takin’ a nap?” Carson asked. “We don’t have to take them anymore.”
    â€œI didn’t mean to fall asleep. I guess my body hasn’t adjusted to East Coast time, though. I came out here to think and must have dozed off.”
    Jason scrunched up his nose. “Where’d you come from?”
    â€œI live in California. A long way from here. Where is your house, anyway?”
    Carson narrowed his eyes. “We’re not supposed to tell strangers where we live.”
    â€œIs the house on this block at least?”
    The boys shared a silent look and Addison knew there was some kind of mysterious twin communication happening.
    Jason answered. “No.”
    â€œSo, you’re passing through?”
    Another look.
    Jason again. “We’re stayin’ at Gamma’s house next door till Daddy gets off work.”
    Next door?
    â€œWhat’s your last name?”
    They’d forgotten to be suspicious. “Thomas,” they said in unison.
    Addison knew the name. A memory of three teenage boys flashed through her mind. Ethan, Jake, and Matthew. The Thomas brothers had been quite the heartthrobs back then. Golden and beautiful, she’d spent hours watching them from whatever window gave her the best view. She remembered they’d liked to pull off their shirts and toss a football around in the yard. She’d been the happiest thirteen-year-old on the planet on those days.
    She wondered which brother could claim father to these two boys.
    â€œYou stay with your Gamma a lot?” Addison asked, shamelessly probing for more information.
    Jason nodded. “When Daddy works late. Sometimes we play at our cousins’ house. Daddy says we’d blow up the house if we stayed home alone.”
    Addison grinned. “Do you get into trouble a lot?”
    â€œWe were trying to launch our rocket,” Carson said, as if that explained everything.
    â€œWe did it outside and everything, but it went zoom right through the window,” Jason said,