Three's a Crowd Read Online Free PDF

him?
    â€œAll the boys are back on duty,” Julie remarked. “Drew looks like he’s coming in with Louise. They work out well together, don’t they?” I remained silent. Julie turned and examined my glum expression. She looked puzzled. “Did Drew carry on like Murray the Murk down by the water’s edge?” she demanded. ”What was going on?”
    â€œI shoved him out of the way of Jeebie’s board,” I explained. “It was heading straight for him.”
    â€œDidn’t actually see any board from here,” Julie said with a shrug. My heart sank. Suppose everyone else assumed that I had just pushed him away? “It just looked as if you suddenly got mad with something he said.” She looked at me more intently. “Just what was he saying anyway?”
    He was asking for a date, I raged to myself and if Brat hadn’t come to the beach with me today I would have had my date with the nicest guy in the district.
    â€œNothing,” I said. “Do you realize how lucky you are to have only older brothers?”

 
Chapter Six
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    By Monday morning I had cheered up. So I hadn’t sighted Drew again for the rest of the afternoon. It didn’t mean that he was steering clear of us or me in particular.
    Louise had come back after a while to return the wetsuit, and then returned to her occupation of stalking Drew. Julie and I had watched her move in with our usual envy. It was no disgrace to lose a guy to Louise – she was the acknowledged expert, and made every move look so natural. She used every opportunity for body contact, stumbling against him on the sand and clinging helplessly to him in the surf.
    I could see the other guys grinning at this helpless female act Louise put on. Our Louise was the champion swimmer of the club, and Geordie was the only one she couldn’t beat. With Drew on duty Louise stayed close enough to the patrol station to keep an admiring eye on him, but not close enough to cause unfavourable comments. As I said, she was the absolute expert.
    â€œDo you reckon he goes for the feminine type?” July asked thoughtfully.
    â€œMaybe just the Louise type,” I mused as I watched her shake her curls off her face and dimple up at Drew as though he had said something witty.
    It was something to consider when I got up on Monday morning. Maybe it was about time I revealed my feminine side too. I tried wearing my hair out of its plait, but it cascaded everywhere. I brushed it back and tied it with a ribbon. Louise was not the only one who had curls. I cinched my belt tighter, admiring the way my skirt swirled out when I walked and made my entrance into the kitchen.
    â€œHere comes golliwog,” Brat called out. I swung a backhander and he ducked. “Golliwog, golliwog,” he chanted.
    Mum blinked at me and carefully put down her brimming coffee cup. I could see that she was impressed by the new me. Monday mornings I usually scrambled into my raggiest jeans and elderly school jumper; there was no one worth impressing at our school at the beginning of the week.
    â€œIsn’t it a school day today?”
    â€œYeah.”
    Mum was silenced. I mean what could she say? She couldn’t nag about me slouching out the door in rags this morning – I had even ironed my skirt and my new shirt. I was halfway through my breakfast when she dropped her bombshell.
    â€œRemember to come straight home tonight and get dinner for yourself and Brett. I’ve got to work late.”
    â€œI don’t believe this,” I burst out. “I’ve arranged to go around to Julie’s place tonight.” We had organized this on the way home last night. Now that Drew lived right next door to Julie, it seemed the logical place to do our homework. “You know we’ve got this test coming up.”
    â€œNo problem,” Mum assured me. “Just make sure that Brett is with you. Mrs. Gosford won’t