When August Ends

***That evening at Jack Foley’s Pub, I was busy obsessing over Noah when an old, familiar face turned up in my section.

He seemed happy to see me. “Heather?”

It was a guy I’d gone to high school with, one I hadn’t seen in a few years. He was one year ahead of me.

“Oh my God…Jared!” I hugged him.

Jared Mackenzie had always been smart, and everyone was super impressed when he’d gotten into Harvard.

“It’s so good to see you,” he said.

“You, too. You don’t usually come home for the summer, do you? I haven’t seen you since you graduated.”

He frowned. “My father is sick, so I’m not working the usual summer job I keep in Cambridge.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Yeah, lung cancer.”

My stomach dropped. “That’s tough. I’m really sorry.”

That reminded me things could always be worse. My mother was severely depressed, but at least she was physically healthy.

“It’s been a rough summer, but running into you tonight is a nice surprise.”

“Likewise.” I smiled. “So, what’s it like to be almost finished with school? One more year, right?”

“Yeah. It’s surreal how fast time flies. I hope to stay in Boston for grad school. So, it’ll be a while before I have to face the real world and find a job.”

“What’s your major again?”

“Neuroscience. I’d like to become a medical researcher.”

“Right. I remember it being something easy.” I winked and caught myself twirling my hair, which I often did when I was feeling flirtatious.

Jared laughed. “Listen, I’ve pretty much been sitting by my dad’s bedside every day, and at night I just need a breather. I haven’t wanted to hang out with the people from school or go drinking. But I would love to go somewhere and talk—have a good conversation and a good meal. Would you want to hang out sometime?”

I was surprised, but I couldn’t find one reason to say no. “That would be great.”

“Can I admit something?” he asked.

“Sure.”

“When I heard you and Eric broke up, I might have done a little fist pump.”

I covered my mouth. “Really?”

“I also might have had a pretty intense crush on you in high school, but you were always taken.”

My heart fluttered. “I would’ve never known that. You were always so busy playing lacrosse or with your nose buried in books. I never sensed anything.”

“You didn’t have me pegged as a nerd, did you?”

“No. Just the opposite. I think intelligence is amazingly sexy.”

Pipe down.

After I took his order, we exchanged numbers. Maybe a date with Jared would be exactly what I needed. He’d be going back to Cambridge, so there wouldn’t be any obligation to continue things beyond the summer. And Lord knows, I needed a distraction from Noah. It would do me good to redirect my focus toward someone else.CHAPTER TEN* * *NOAHLater that week, I was working outside Heather’s house when a man I didn’t recognize approached me. He was probably in his early fifties. My guard immediately went up.

“Can I help you?” I asked.

“I’m here to see my daughter. Who are you?”

This is Heather’s father?

“I’m Noah Cavallari. I’ve been renting the boathouse.”

He held out his hand. “Rick Chadwick.”

I wiped the dirt off my palms and shook his hand. “Good to meet you.”

Rick was stocky and wearing an oversized, brown Members Only-type jacket. If I weren’t a big guy myself, I might have been intimidated by the way he was looking at me.

At that moment, Heather opened the door. “Hey, Dad.”

“Hi, darling.”

She looked between us. “I see you’ve met Noah.”

“Briefly, yes.”

Heather turned to me. “My father is in town for a couple of days.”

I remembered she’d said her dad did a yearly visit.

It would’ve been nice if she’d given me some warning.

“Would you want to join us for dinner tonight, Noah?”

What am I supposed to say? “I don’t want to intrude.”

Rick intervened. “No intrusion at all. I’d prefer to get to know the man spending so much time on the property.”

Great.

“See you at seven,” Heather said before disappearing inside the house with him.

Had I missed the part where I’d said yes?

As I continued to work outside, my phone vibrated.Heather: I’m sorry I didn’t say anything about him coming. I didn’t know until this morning. He wasn’t supposed to visit until the fall. He sprung this on me. I think it’s because he heard we’re selling the house. He’s against it.This was going to be a real fun fucking dinner. A hoot.Noah: I’m not sure I should be joining you.Heather: I would appreciate your company. I feel like I need a buffer tonight.How could I refuse that?Noah: Okay. Can I bring something?Heather: Do you even have to ask what to bring? ;-)Noah: I’ll pick up some garlic bread. Anything else you need?Heather: New parents? LOLNoah: They don’t sell those at Stop and Shop.Heather: See you at 7.I smiled.Noah: K.***The fact that Heather’s father stayed at a hotel when they had this huge house with a couple of guest rooms really spoke volumes about the nature of his relationship with Heather and Alice.