Page 4 of One Hot Summer
I tried to keep my eyes on his face, and not on the water droplets running in lazy lines down his chest. “No apology necessary,” I said, raising my hands in mock surrender. “I didn’t realize myself that I’d be coming here. It was sort of a spur of the moment decision.”
He managed a soft smile, still hovering at the threshold of the bathroom like a cat that wanted out but wasn’t sure if the dog had left the room. “Look, I don’t want to intrude,” he blurted. “If you want me gone, I’ll—uh—I’ll pack up right now and find a motel. Seriously, Mr. Price, it’s no big deal.”
I probably should have told him to go. I should have given him money to stay somewhere else and gotten on with my vacation. But staring at Adam Ramsey, soaked and pink-faced and more earnest than any twenty-one-year-old had a right to be, I felt my irritation fade into something more complicated. There was a rawness about him I remembered from Dalton’s stories, like the world had only half-finished sanding down his edges.
I let my shoulders drop. “Don’t be ridiculous. The place is big enough for both of us.”
He blinked. “Really? Are you sure?”
“Sure as hell beats staying alone in the city,” I said, surprised at how true it sounded.
He smiled for real this time, and my chest did an odd little flip. “Thanks, Mr. Price. Give me a few minutes and I’ll move all of my stuff to the guest room.”
“Griffin,” I corrected. “I think you’ve earned first-name privileges at this point.”
He ducked his head. “Right. Sorry. Griffin.”
He darted into the bedroom, door closing with a soft click. I shook my head and made my way downstairs. In the kitchen, I found the remains of Adam’s lunch—the crust of a sandwich, a bottle of store-brand root beer, and a stack of textbooks open on the dining table. The sight of it all made me feel weirdly settled.
I poured myself a glass of water and leaned against the counter, listening to the creaks and sighs of the cabin. Upstairs, a drawer opened and closed. A few moments later, Adam appeared, this time in a faded T-shirt and a pair of oldsweatpants. He’d managed to comb his hair into a semi-orderly mess. The panic was gone, replaced by a wary sort of optimism.
He hovered at the foot of the stairs; hands tucked in his pockets. “Do you want me to stay out of your way? I can keep to the guest room if you want privacy.”
I chuckled, shaking my head. “Not at all. This cabin is meant to be enjoyed. Make yourself at home.”
Adam visibly relaxed, his shoulders loosening as a small smile tugged at his lips. “Thanks, that’s really nice of you.”
An awkward silence stretched between us. I racked my brain for something to say, feeling oddly off-balance. It had been a long time since I’d had to make small talk with someone who wasn’t a client or colleague.
“So, uh, how’s school going?” I asked lamely, wincing internally at how much I sounded like my own father.
“It’s good,” he replied, perking up a bit. “I’m actually taking some summer courses to try and graduate early. That’s partly why I came up here. I needed a quiet place to work without so many distractions.”
I nodded, impressed by his dedication. “That’s great. What are you studying?”
“Computer science,” he replied, his eyes lighting up. “I’m especially interested in AI and machine learning. It’s fascinating how computers can be taught to learn and make decisions on their own. They’re even using them to perform some surgeries.”
As he spoke, I found myself drawn in by his enthusiasm. There was something infectious about the way he talked, his hands gesturing animatedly as he explained concepts I only vaguely understood. “Sounds like you’ve found your passion,” I said, smiling. “That’s not always easy to do.”
His expression turned thoughtful. “Yeah, I feel lucky. I know a lot of people my age who are still trying to figure out what they want to do with their lives.”
An awkward silence fell between us again. I cleared my throat, searching for something else to say. “Well, I don’t want to keep you from your studies,” I said, gesturing to the textbooks on the table. “I should probably unpack and get settled in myself.”
Adam nodded, looking relieved to have an out from our awkward small talk. “Right, of course. I’ll just… ” He trailed off, gesturing vaguely towards the living room. As he moved past me, I caught a whiff of his shampoo—something woodsy and clean. It stirred an unexpected flutter in my stomach that I quickly pushed aside. This was my son’s best friend, for Christ’s sake. I needed to get a grip.
Grabbing my bag, I headed up to my bedroom. But as I started unpacking, I couldn’t stop thinking about my surprise guest downstairs. His presence in the cabin was unexpected, but not entirely unwelcome. There was something refreshing about his youthful energy and enthusiasm.
As I hung up my clothes, I found myself wondering what it would be like to spend the next two weeks with him. Would it be awkward? Or could we find some common ground? I shook my head, trying to dispel those thoughts. I was here to relax and recharge, not to socialize with my son’s best friend. But a small part of me was grateful for the company, even if I’d never admit it out loud.
Chapter Three
ADAM
Iread over the same paragraph for the third time, but the words may as well have been written in another language for as much sense as they made. Maybe my brain had been too fried from the heat at home, or maybe it was just the monumental distraction moving around upstairs.
The distraction in question was my best friend’s father. And not just any father, but Griffin Price, who was the hottest man I’d ever met in my life. At least, if you liked tall, broad-shouldered, denim-blue-eyed guys with biceps bigger than most people’s thighs, and a square jaw that could have been used as a chisel. Which, apparently, I did.
Not that I had any business thinking that. I tried to push thoughts of Dalton’s dad out of my mind and focus on my textbook, but it was a losing battle. My eyes kept drifting to the ceiling, tracking the soft thuds of footsteps above. What was he doing up there? Unpacking? Changing clothes? The mental image of him shirtless made my cheeks burn.
