Mystic Summer by Hannah McKinnon

Author:Hannah McKinnon
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Atria/Emily Bestler Books
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Thirteen

A wave of heat engulfs the northeast coast, delivering temperatures in the high nineties and a stifling humidity that makes it hard to move. Since Dean Hartman’s call, my desire to return to Boston has become more insistent. I need to put my life back in order. As much as I like my mom’s home-cooked meals and Dad’s bad jokes, I feel helpless being back in Mystic.

But Erika convinces me otherwise. “I’m melting,” she groans into the phone. “You can’t even walk up Commonwealth without feeling like you’re going to get stuck in the pavement.”

Evan confirms this. “It’s hotter than hell.”

“How are you handling it on set?” I ask. Even though they tape in the studio, a good deal of the action scenes are shot outside.

“We had to film until midnight last night, just to avoid the afternoon heat. One of the crewmembers fainted. And the humidity set off Angie’s migraines.”

“Poor thing,” I say, grateful that he can’t see me roll my eyes.

“I’d give my left arm to be away from this and out on the coast,” he says. “You should stay put. No reason to rush home.”

No one’s rushing, I think. But deep down I feel the pressure. I need to find a job. And we need to look at apartments. “What’s your schedule like?” I ask, anyway.

“I’m on set for the rest of the week,” he says apologetically. “So grab some ice cream. Hit the beach with a book.” The very things that’d be more enjoyable if Evan were here to share in them. It feels like we haven’t seen each other in forever.

“Isn’t Erika coming back soon, anyway?” he asks.

Erika just has a few details to wrap up for one of the partners before she can leave. “Yeah, she’ll be here soon. But even though you’re tied up at work, I was thinking that maybe I should start looking at places. I can narrow down some choices for us.”

“Oh, you just reminded me! I’ve found one that I think will work.”

This is news to me. “You’ve already picked out an apartment? Without me?”

“Relax, Maggie. I got a tip from one of the crewmembers that there was an old brick schoolhouse near Charles Street that his sister was vacating. It’s gorgeous. Two bedrooms, hardwood floors, lots of sunlight.” He pauses. “The only thing is they don’t allow pets.”

I bristle. “I can’t just abandon Mr. Kringles,” I say, trying unsuccessfully to keep the frustration out of my voice.

“But cats make me break out in hives,” he says, with a matching level of frustration. “I think I’m allergic.”

It’s a discussion we’ve had before. When Evan sleeps over, the only “reaction” he’s had has been itchy eyes, at worst. Which has prompted me on several occasions to suggest seeing an allergist. “You don’t know that for sure,” I remind him. “You said that your grandmother’s cat doesn’t bother you. Maybe it’s just hay fever or something environmental. Can’t we get you to a doctor first, like we agreed?”

He doesn’t answer right away.

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