Love Next Door (Lakeside #1) by Helena Hunting

I’m willing to set aside my disdain for beach parties, however, because as much as I dislike them, I also don’t like the idea of Billy being there with no one to watch out for him apart from his drunk and disorderly friends, who have already proven they can’t be trusted to take care of him. That much was clear when Van brought him back from the bar, drunker than a frat boy on frosh week. Last night was the first time I’d seen Van since then, and I still felt bad for assuming he’d had a hand in Billy being drunk, despite his shitty friends.

Even Tawny suggested I come, and I haven’t had a chance to get together with her and Allie yet, so this seems like as good an opportunity as any to make that happen.

I shrug. “If I’m not having fun, I won’t stay.”

An hour later I’m dressed in a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. I bring a zip-up hoodie, just in case. It’s closing in on eight, and the sun is heading toward the horizon, kissing the tops of trees far off in the distance. Sometimes the breeze coming off the water can cool things down in the evening this early in the summer. It isn’t until mid-July that we get the truly hot and humid nights. Besides, it’s black fly season, and I don’t want to get eaten alive.

I even put on makeup, not because I think I need to impress anyone, but if I’m going to see all the people I went to high school with, I don’t want to look like a hag. I check my hair one last time, add some scent-free product to keep the curls from frizzing, and grab my purse, tossing a bottle of water in there so I can stay hydrated.

Billy’s already waiting for me on the porch, six-pack of beer at his feet, an open one in his hand. I’m almost certain he’s done with his antibiotics, since the infection has cleared up. I refrain from asking, though, not wanting to push his buttons. He’s in his midtwenties, and a lot of the guys I used to hang out with when I was his age could pound a twelve-pack without batting an eyelash.

He drains the rest of his beer, tosses the can in the recycling bin, and pushes out of the chair. He hops once, regains his balance, and reaches for his crutches propped against the screen next to his chair.

“You forgetting something?” I point to the six-pack.

He looks down. “Shit. Yeah.” He tries to bend over to pick it up with his crutches still tucked under his arms, which proves fruitless.

“I got it.” I nab them and head for Billy’s truck—the one he didn’t plow into a mailbox—with him crutching after me. This one he restored back in high school. It’s a 1980s Ford F-150 that’s in decent shape. A few dings in the fender and the tailgate, but otherwise it looks great and drives smoothly.

I drop the six-pack in the bed and get in, not bothering to ask if Billy needs help, since I’m aware he’ll most definitely not want mine.

“You gonna lecture me about drinking responsibly tonight?” he asks when we’re on the road, heading toward the beach.

“I wasn’t planning on it, since this is a beach party and I kind of figured the point is being irresponsible.”

He makes a noise in the back of his throat.

“Spit it out, Billy, say what you want to say.”

“I don’t need you to keep an eye on me. I’ll be fine with my friends.”

I sigh. I don’t want to fight with Billy. Ever since I’ve been home, that’s all we do, but his friends are part of the problem. He was with them the night he got that DUI, and they didn’t stop him from getting behind the wheel. Although I don’t have the full story, only the version my dad has given me. “These the same friends who left you at the bar the other night?”

“Dean’s sister was picking him up, and I wanted to finish my beer.”

“Right.” That’s why he was having a nap in one of the booths. I heard from Aaron that all the guys he’d come with had bailed, and no one aside from him and Van had done anything about it. I don’t bother to get into it with him, though, because I don’t want to set him off. “I’m not going to keep an eye on you. Tawny and Allie invited me.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah. Oh. Look, I’m not trying to be overprotective, or a buzzkill; I just want you to be safe. You could’ve been hurt far worse than you are. You’re my only brother. You can’t fault me for wanting to keep you around.”

“If you care so much, why haven’t you been home for more than a couple of days at a time since you went away for college?” There’s bite in his tone, but under that I can hear the hurt.

I tap the steering wheel, considering this. My leaving town had nothing to do with getting away from my family. It was the whole living in a small town, everyone knowing everything about me, all the relationship drama that people couldn’t help but get involved in; that was the reason I wanted out. “I don’t have a good answer for that, Billy. I’m here now, though, so maybe we can have a do-over? I’ll try to be more like a sister and less like another overbearing parent, and you can try to be less surly?”

He runs his hands down his thighs. “Yeah, I’ll work on being less of an asshole. Being cooped up all day in the house kinda sucks. And honestly, it kind of freaked me out having you back home. Dad’s always been so proud of you, going to college, moving to the city, getting a degree and a great job. Always talking about you to his friends with so much pride. And then there’s me.”