Page 1 of One Hot Summer
Chapter One
ADAM
My neck was so slick with sweat it felt like I’d tried to drown myself in a pool of baby oil. I glared at the digital thermometer on the windowsill, willing the numbers to go lower, but they held steady at 102°F just as they had for the past several days.
The man on the news with his expensive suit and professionally styled hair said that the record-breaking heat wave we were experiencing showed no signs of tapering off. “In fact, we’re seeing some of the highest temperatures in decades,” he announced gleefully as if that were something to strive for. I wasn’t typically a violent guy, but if he’d been standing in front of me, I might not have been able to resist the urge to punch him in his perfectly straight teeth.Who has teeth that white anyway? No way that’s natural.
Somewhere outside, a car alarm started up. Sirens screamed, as if the city itself wanted to upstage me in sheer suffering. I wasn’t the only one roasting alive—voices echoed up from outside, each one trying to out-complain the last.
The apartment I shared with my best friend, Dalton, was old and cramped, but it was close to the NYU campus and fit the budget of two college students trying to make it on their own. Unfortunately, an old building meant an ancient air conditioning system that struggled to keep up with the brutal heat wave.
For days, it had been making concerning noises, sputtering and groaning like an old man trying to climb stairs. This morning, it had finally given up the ghost with a pathetic wheeze. I’d called our landlord, Mr. Rossi, hoping for a quick fix. His response had been less than encouraging. “Weeks, kid. Maybe longer. Parts are back-ordered everywhere with this heat. There’s nothin’ I can do about it,” he’d explained with a heavy New York accent. I’d hung up, fighting the urge to hurl my phone across the room. Weeks of this? I’d melt into a puddle before then.
At least Dalton had escaped this hellish inferno. He’d flown out the week before on a mission trip to Honduras. Not that he was having an easier time, working all day in the sun and sleeping on dirt floors. I wasn’t sure how he did it, but that was Dalton for you, always willing to lend a hand and help others out. It was one of the things I loved most about him.
I flopped onto the couch, grimacing as my sweaty skin stuck to the leather. The heat was making it impossible to focus on my online summer courses. At this rate, I’d never graduate early like I’d planned.
That’s when I remembered Dalton’s offer from a few weeks ago. His family owned a cabin in Tennessee that they rarely used. He’d mentioned I could use it anytime if I needed to get away and had even shown me where he kept the spare key.
I hesitated for a moment. Was it weird to use my best friend’s family cabin without him there? But as another bead ofsweat rolled down my back, I decided I didn’t care. This was an emergency.
I grabbed my phone and dialed Dalton’s number, knowing it would go to voicemail while he was out of the country. “Hey Dalton, it’s Adam. I know you’re off saving the world right now, but I’m dying here. Literally melting. The AC in our place finally kicked the bucket and Rossi says it’ll be weeks before it’s fixed. I was hoping I could take you up on that offer to use your family’s cabin. Give me a call when you can. Thanks, man.” I hung up and immediately started packing. Even if Dalton didn’t get back to me right away, I knew he wouldn’t mind. That was the kind of friend he was, generous to a fault.
Within an hour, I had a bag packed, a rental car lined up, and a flight booked direct to Knoxville. The trip would cost more than my next two rent checks combined. I justified it by telling myself it was a health expense, like medicine.
The city outside was even hotter than inside. The air had the shimmer of wet pavement and gasoline. I dragged my bag down four flights of stairs and onto the sidewalk. The only breeze was from passing traffic and felt as hot as a blow dryer. I couldn’t wait to get out of here and escape the oppressive heat.
The flight was two hours of pure relief. I didn’t even mind the lack of leg room or the woman next to me who wanted to talk about her cats the whole way. The air conditioning on the plane felt like heaven. I checked my phone when we landed, seeing a voicemail notification and three texts waiting for me, all from Dalton. I listened to the voicemail first.
“Hey man! Of course you can use the cabin. Why else would I have offered? Besides, my mom didn’t want the cabin when they split, and my dad works too much to ever go. He still pays somebody to keep it clean and maintained though, so someone might as well enjoy it. Okay, well, I hope you get there safe and have fun. I’ll be off grid for a while. We’re on our way to help outa tiny village that has no clean drinking water. Gonna dig some trenches. Talk to you later.” I shook my head with a smile. Only my best friend could sound that excited about digging trenches over his summer break. The world seriously needed more people like him.
Waiting for my bag to show up on the luggage carousel, I opened his texts. My eyes widened as I scanned the first one.
I forgot to mention, you have to put your trash in the metal bins and lock them up, so bears don’t get in them.
Bears? My heart rate spiked as I read the next text.
Don’t worry, they usually stay away from the cabin. Just don’t leave food out.
I let out a shaky breath. Usually? That wasn’t as reassuring as Dalton probably thought it was. The final text gave me the code to open the security gate at the entrance of the driveway along with a final warning to not get eaten.Trust me, I’ll do my best.
The air in Knoxville was still warm, but nothing like the suffocating heat of New York. I picked up the keys to my rental car and programmed the cabin’s address into the GPS. As I drove up winding mountain roads, my anxiety about potential bear encounters faded. The scenery was breathtaking—bright blue skies above lush green forests. The temperature dropped noticeably as I climbed higher, and I rolled down the windows to let in the fresh, clean air.
When I finally pulled up to the cabin, my jaw dropped. This was no rustic shack in the woods. It was a stunning two-story log home with a wraparound deck on each floor and floor-to-ceiling windows. I stepped out of the car, my eyes wide as I took in the stunning view. The cabin sat on the edge of a clearing, overlooking a sweeping vista of mountains and forests.
As I approached the front door, key in hand, I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt. This place was way nicer than I’d expected. Was it really okay for me to be here? What if I brokesomething or spilled something? I’d just have to be extra careful, I decided.
I pushed the door open and stepped inside, my footsteps echoing on the hardwood floors. The interior was just as impressive as the outside—all exposed beams and rustic charm, but with modern amenities. A massive stone fireplace dominated one wall of the great room, and the kitchen looked like something from a cooking show.
“Holy shit,” I muttered, dropping my bag. This place was nicer than any place I’d ever lived, that was for sure. I wandered through the open concept living area, running my hand along the smooth granite countertops in the kitchen. The place even smelled amazing, like pine and fresh air.
As I explored further, I discovered a game room downstairs complete with a pool table and dart board, and a home theater with reclining leather seats and one of those old-timey popcorn stands. But the real showstopper was out back. A huge deck led to an infinity pool that seemed to spill right into the mountain view. Next to it sat a hot tub big enough for at least eight people.
I couldn’t resist. Within minutes, I’d changed into my swim trunks and dived into the refreshing water. As I floated on my back, staring up at the cloudless sky, I felt the tension of the past few days melt away. The only sounds were the gentle lapping of water against the pool’s edge and the distant call of birds in the trees. I swam until my fingers and toes were shriveled and then climbed out and dried myself off. Wrapping the towel around my waist, I decided to explore the rest of the place.
The main bedroom upstairs was bigger than our entire apartment, with a king-sized bed and an ensuite bathroom that featured both a massive shower and a jetted tub. Two more bedrooms and another full bath rounded out the second floor.
I stood in the hallway, eyeing the doors to all three bedrooms. I told myself I should probably take one of thesmaller rooms. After all, I was just a guest. But then I remembered Dalton’s words, his dad never used the place. With a shrug, I dragged my bag into the master bedroom. I might as well enjoy the perks while I was here.
