Page 19 of Seven Summer Weekends

“Gicky said that she left something for me, a painting, I think. Have you seen it?”

She went back to the storage closet where Margot had found hers. Paresh’s gift was leaning against the wall. A frame, covered in brown construction paper, tied up in string. He took it and slid it under his arm. She was bursting to ask him to open it but felt it would be invading his privacy. She imagined it as a painting of them in the compound in Delhi where they met, a Garden of Eden.

Addison hugged Paresh goodbye at the ferry.

“Thank you. I’m so honored to have learned meditation fromyou—you were much better than the YouTuber who I learned it from the first time. You must have had an excellent teacher.”

Addison pictured him learning from a great sage at an Indian ashram.

“I learned on YouTube too!” He laughed.

“Really?”

“No. Your aunt taught me. I was never interested in any of it until I met her.”

The ferryboat pulled into the marina, and suddenly their goodbye felt too rushed.

Paresh reached out for another hug.

“Thank you for a lovely visit,” he said with more than a hint of melancholy. She stared into his eyes, memorizing them so she could paint them one day. She promised she would keep trying to meditate. He told her to keep an open heart, which she ridiculously followed up with a promise to teach him how to play beer pong the next time he visited. They both knew there would be no next time.

Tears fell down her face as the boat fell away.

“Open, enlightened, and present,” she whispered out loud, “kind of sucks.”

Chapter Ten

Addison spent a good hour getting ready for the Bay Beach block party, trying her best to look beachy casual rather than like she had tried her best. It worked. She looked beautiful in a silky lavender slip dress that she had never worn before and strappy sandals. You Again had definitely stirred something in her, and she daydreamed of their next flirtation more than she cared to admit. She snapped a selfie and sent it to the group chat.

Hot date tonight?Lisa asked.

Wear nice undies, Pru urged.

Stop! I’m just going to a party!she responded, before switching to her slinky floral thong, just in case.

The Bay Beach, a community gathering spot with a playground, basketball court, and cradle for swimming, sat at the end of her block, but as Addison reached it, she wished it were a bit farther. It was a gorgeous night—the kind that made her think she should truly consider putting down roots there. The island seemed to provide such balance to living and working in the city.

While not the kind of person to need a plus-one, she did feel awkward walking into a party where everyone knew one another—and she knew no one. Nan, the real estate agent, waved to her as she entered.Well, almost no one, she thought. She waved back at her and smiled as she scanned the crowd for You Again.

They saw each other at the same time from across the playground. She caught him doing a double take, his eyes turning from the blonde that had his attention to her. He held that gaze for a few seconds more than customary. It wasn’t as obvious as Jack watching his soulmate Rose descend the stairs of theTitanic, but it was undeniably reminiscent of a Hollywood first look, and it filled Addison with confidence. Her breath got caught in her throat as she watched him approach.

The bar was behind her, and he motioned to it and asked, “What’s your poison?” in lieu of a greeting. Even though he looked close to her age, he had a funny way with words that reminded her of the older men who wrote copy at the agency. She resisted asking him how old he was, which was hard because she was curious. Maybe she should learn his name first.

“Just about anything,” she responded, anticipating the liquid courage her first few sips would supply.

They walked over to the makeshift bar and poured themselves a drink from what looked like a pitcher of mojitos. Her first sip was a bit tart, but it hit the spot. She took another, to fill the awkward silence. She was eager to lift the veil of secrecy. The You Again bit had run its course. Normally she would have totally vetted someone before letting loose as she had, spilling her guts to a guy she had just met. Her friends teased that she wasthe kind of girl who could find out everything about anyone in under an hour, yet here she was, falling for a complete stranger. She was eager to learn more about him, especially since she couldn’t remember the last time someone’s touch had made her stomach turn somersaults. She was about to put an end to the mystery with a proper introduction, when she noticed Shep, the old guy from her block, coming toward her. She spun around, quite obviously, to avoid him.

“What’s up?” asked You Again.

“Nothing, nothing. This old guy from my block is coming this way. The real estate agent said he lost his mind after his wife died and I should avoid him at all costs. That he’s a little…” She tilted her head and twirled her finger beside her ear, demonstrating the international sign for cuckoo.

She thought this would get a laugh, but his expression was anything but amused. The old man showed up from behind and slapped the now agitated younger man on the back. Addison refocused her attention on her new favorite habit and gnawed on the side of her nail.

“What ya drinking?” Shep asked, while peeking into their cups. “Oooh. That fruity stuff gives me gas.”

“Pleasure to see you again, Addie,” he added, wiping off his hands on his shorts and reaching out for a shake. The wipe really freaked her out. She couldn’t stop thinking about what might have precipitated it.

“It’s Addison,” she quietly corrected, “and the pleasure is all mine.” She followed their shake by casually wiping off her own hand on her dress.

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