Tessa was retrieving her backpack from the employee lockers, and glanced up at the sound of Peter’s voice. “To put it mildly,” she agreed, unsuccessfully stifling a yawn. “It’s been kind of crazy here tonight, hasn’t it?” “Yeah.” Peter nodded. “It’s the half price sale, people starting to stock up for the summer. Not that it doesn’t already feel like summer outside. It was almost ninety today.” “I’m already using the AC in my car every afternoon,” acknowledged Tessa. “I think someday it would be nice to live someplace where it didn’t reach a hundred degrees every single day for four or five months. After living in the Southwest my entire life, I’d like to maybe live by the ocean or in the mountains somewhere.” “Alaska in the summer, Hawaii the rest of the year,” offered Peter. “Sounds pretty good to me. You ready to go?” “Yes. I’ve got some studying to do tonight, and a paper to finish writing.” Tessa didn’t add that she’d be doing her homework at the 24-hour Starbucks located two blocks from here.
