Allie coughs into her elbow, and Tawny sucks her teeth, probably trying not to laugh.

Van’s smile turns into a smirk. “You planning to police the noise and music choices?”

I don’t return the smile. “There don’t seem to be any screaming banshees around, calling people trailer trash, so it looks like I’m off duty tonight.”

He sobers. “I’m sorry about that. Monica was way out of line.”

“Nothing I haven’t heard before.” Which is true. It’s not the first time that term has been directed at me. Although usually I’m not practically in my own backyard, nor is that negative slur coming from my neighbor. It frustrates me that a place that used to be a haven of fond memories is turning into something else.

“That doesn’t make it better. She was horrified this morning, and hungover. Spent most of last night puking.”

“Is that why she isn’t gracing us with her presence tonight?”

“They took off early this morning. She wanted to go over and apologize, but it was early, and she was a hot mess. Besides, Monica is probably the shittiest apologizer in the history of the universe, so I figured it was better if she left the apologizing to me.”

I shake my head and fight a chuckle. “If you invite her back and she insults me again, I’ll probably toss her in the lake.”

“I have zero plans to invite her back. But I would pay money to see that.” He rocks back on his heels and glances to the right of me, where Allie and Tawny are raptly watching this interaction. “Oh, how rude of me.” He holds out his hand to Tawny first. “I’m Van, Dillion’s neighbor.”

“I’m Tawny and this is Allie.” She motions to her with her cup. “We’ve been friends with Dee ever since we could put two words together.”

“That’s a long time and some real devotion to the art of communication and friendship.” He nods a couple of times. “Anyway, I thought I’d come say hi. And apologize.”

“I think we’re probably even with apologies at this point.”

“Does this mean we’re calling a truce?”

“As long as you’re not hammering away on something before seven tomorrow morning and your friends aren’t calling me names, I think we’re good. And I won’t accuse you of getting my brother wasted.”

He holds out his hand, and I slip mine into his. The air around us suddenly feels charged, like the shock of a lightning bolt cutting through the sky.

Shouts and laughter draw my attention away from my suddenly charismatic attractive neighbor, and I release his hand, a shiver rushing down my spine despite the heat. I frown as I take in the scene unfolding next to the campfire. “Oh, for the love of Pete.” The end of my brother’s crutch is smoking. He stabs the bottom in the sand and stumbles forward, perilously close to the edge of the fire.

“Billy!” I call his name, but he either can’t hear me over the shouts and laughter or he’s ignoring me. “Hold this.” I pass Tawny my drink and stalk across the beach toward my brother. He loses his balance but thankfully ends up on his ass in the sand, howling with laughter.

People move out of the way as I approach and come to a halt right beside him lying in a heap on the beach. I sincerely hope there are sand fleas crawling around in his boxers. “What’re you doing?”

“Having fun! What are you doing?” He points the slightly charred end of his crutch at me, and I lift my arm, using it as a shield to keep the crutch from smacking me in the face.

“Dude. You’re going to burn someone doing that, and if it’s me I will one hundred percent be taking my old bedroom back and I’ll be punching you in the nuts.”

“You need to loosen up, Dee. You’re more high strung than a guitar.” He bursts into overly loud laughter.

I roll my eyes and point to Tommy Westover, who’s standing off to the side with his thumbs jammed in his pockets, fighting a grin. “It’s on you to keep him out of trouble tonight.”

He shrugs. “I’ll do my best.”

When I get back to Tawny and Allie, Van is no longer with them and his friend group has moved on.

“Like hell he doesn’t have the hots for you. He couldn’t take his eyes off of you, and you were the same.”

“I recognize he’s nice to look at, that’s all.”

Tawny gives me a look. “Seriously? He lives right next door to you. How are you not taking advantage of that situation?”

“I don’t even like him.”

“You don’t have to like him to ride him.”

“What if he’s a terrible lay and I’m stuck living next door to him until he finally decides to sell?”

Allie arches a brow. “The more important question is, what if he’s not?”

Tags: Helena Hunting Lakeside Romance
Source: readsnovelonline.net