Cold Summer Nights Read Online Free PDF Page B

did a reverse rainbow as he shook his head and got up.
    The front door opened with a suction sound. “Hey, what’s going on? Come on in,” he said, stepping aside.
    Summer crossed the threshold, a surprised look sliding across her face. “Hi Rusty.”
    He tried to smile and ran a hand through his hair. “Hey Summer, what’s happening?”
    “I just stopped at the grocery store and thought I’d drop off some cupcakes,” she said, turning back to Nick and holding up a plastic container of yellow frosted cupcakes.
    A smile worked its way across Rusty’s face. “That is so sweet.”
    Nick flashed him a look and turned back to Summer . “You didn’t have to do that.”
    She pressed her lips together and smiled. “Oh, I’m just on my way home so...”
    “You want a cupcake?” Nick asked, whisking the package into the kitchen.
    “No thanks, I can't stay.”
    Nick set the package on the counter and grabbed the milk from the fridge. "You want some cupcakes and milk, Russ?"
    "No thanks, I'm all good on the cupcakes and milk, Nick,” he replied, studying Summer with uneasy eyes.
    She flashed him a half-hearted smile and looked down to the car keys in her hands.
    "I'll have some later though. I mean, don't get me wrong I love cupcakes just as much as the next…heterosexual male does."
    She cocked her head at him and chuckled.
    “Not that everybody doesn't love… So, how’ve you been?” he asked, clearing his throat.
    “I’ve been good. You?”
    “Real swell,” he answered, taking a big gulp of the Sam Adams.
    Awkward silence filled the room, making the walls feel like they were bulging outward.
    Rusty could hear himself swallow. He nodded for no reason, his eyes roaming the room as his foot wiggled on his knee. “You building a log cabin out there or something, Nicky?” he asked, smiling uncomfortably at Summer .
    She cracked a thin smile and shifted in her stance.
    His car keys suddenly fell off the coffee table. He bent over and grabbed them, sat back up and jumped when he found Summer sitting right next to him on the couch. "Whoa!" he said, scooting backwards.
    "Sorry," she grinned. "I didn't mean to scare you."
    "Man, you really shouldn't sneak up on guys who watch the UFC on a regular bas…" He trailed off, noticing the breath rolling out of his mouth in white waves. The color drained from his face as he slowly frowned. "H-holy shit," he sputtered, expelling another stream of cloudy air and realizing his entire body was suddenly freezing. He drew in another arctic breath that crystallized his lungs, like he had just inhaled a can of Freon. Shivering, his wide eyes turned to Summer .
    She met his pale panic with a blank stare.
    “Log cabin? What're you talking about?” Nick said, gliding back into the room with a tall glass of milk and a half eaten cupcake. “These are so good,” he said with his mouth full.
    She smiled bashfully and got up from the couch. “Well, I’ll let you two get back to whatever you were doing.”
    “Just discussing some politics in the Middle East, if you wanna get in on that,” Nick said, opening the door for her.
    She tilted her head back. “Ah, I’ll pass.”
    “Suit yourself ," he smiled. “I’ll call you later,” he said, leaning over and giving her a quick peck on the lips before shutting the door.
    Rusty sucked in a huge gulp of air and Nick stopped chewing. "What's with you?"
    Just as quickly as it had come, the chill left Rusty's body, his breath returning to normal, invisible air. He inhaled one warm breath after the other. "Did you see that?" he gasped, the color slowly returning to his face.
    Nick surveyed the room. "See what?" he asked, resuming his chewing.
    "How cold it just got in here," Rusty whispered, rubbing his hands together.
    Nick frowned. "Cold? You getting sick or something?"
    Rusty's eyes nervously darted around the room. "You…you didn't feel that?"
    Nick dropped into the armchair, his brow folding into creases. "Dude, if you're getting