Cold Summer Nights by Sean Thomas Fisher, Esmeralda Morin Read Free Book Online

gripping their fake-baked faces.
    Rusty pushed past them and grabbed Nick around the back of the neck, pulling him so close, Nick could feel Rusty’s warm whiskey breath on his ear. “All I’m saying is something is off with that girl. Just take tonight to collect your senses and enjoy the company of the lovely Miss Amy,” he said, pulling back and gesturing to Amy who smiled coyly.
    Nick snorted, feeling his face getting red and hoping it blended in with the dance floor lights.
    Stacey carelessly swung a Limon and 7, spilling on the floor between them. “Do you love her?”
    Nick laughed and started coughing into his hand. “We are very much in love,” he said sarcastically.
    "No wonder we never see you anymore," Amy shouted.
    Stacey grinned and brushed long blond hair from her face. "How many times have you sent her flowers?”
    Nick’s face fully flushed and there was no hiding it this time, even in here. He had sent Amy a dozen red roses after she had dumped him for Brad. Twice. It was something this group would never let him forget, even Rusty, who called it one of the top three rookie moves of all time.
    “Only six times, but I have something special lined up for our three month anniversary.” Nick replied, feigning a weak smile.
    Stacey threw her head back and laughed, spilling more of her drink. “Oh Nicky!” she said, just before Rusty swept her back into his arms.
    Amy leaned up to his ear again. “So tell me about this Summer .”
    Nick stared into her blue eyes, wondering what he ever saw in them before. “What do you want to know?”
    “Well,” she started, playing with the straw in her glass. “Where did you meet?”
    He shrugged his shoulders. “Why?” he asked, taking a drink.
    This time she shrugged. “Just wondering.”
    “Barnes and Noble.”
    “Ooh,” she grinned. “So romantic! It’s like a movie.”
    He laughed, remembering the night he had met Amy on a crowded rooftop bar called Wellman’s Pub. It was one hour before last call and he still managed to drag her back to his place. He turned to Rusty, who was lost in Stacey’s eyes and going on and on about something that seemed very monumental.
    Amy crept back to Nick’s ear. “I miss you.”
    He chuckled and looked down to his brown Adidas, smelling her strong perfume already floating off his shirt and jacket.
    This time she came so close, her lips brushed against his ear, sending a volt of electricity shooting throughout his entire body. “Do you ever think about me?”
    Nick cringed and tried to hide it. “Things have actually been kinda crazy lately.”
    Disappointment washed over her face.
    “My grandma is real sick,” he said, playing up the sympathy card.
    Amy’s eyebrows dropped. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know,” she said, taking the opportunity to hug him again. This time she squeezed tighter and for much longer, nearly turning it into a slow dance.
    He rolled his eyes behind her back. When her hug waned, he tried to lean back but she pulled him close and tenderly kissed him. He tensed, tasting rum on her lips and pushed away.
    Her brow wrinkled. “What’s wrong?”
    “You’ve got the wrong idea,” he yelled, over Usher’s latest hit.
    Her red lips reached his ear again, the smell of her perfume stinging his eyes. “I’ll let you do whatever you want to me,” she said softly.
    He smiled politely. “I’m probably all good, but thanks.”
    She stepped back, hurt glistening across her face which quickly turned to anger. She put a hand on her tiny waist and looked him over from head to toe. “You know what?” she said, wrinkling her nose like he had some bad body odor. “You’re right. I do have the wrong idea. Let’s go Stacey!” she yelled, pulling Stacey from Rusty’s arms.
    There was a brief tug of war between the two but, grudgingly, Rusty gave up and watched them strut away, disappearing into the bouncing crowd on the dance floor.
    Nick smiled and took a long pull of cold beer. After