Love Next Door (Lakeside 1)

Teagan ignores her outstretched hand and pulls her in for a hug. “It’s so great to meet you! Van’s been keeping you a secret, and I think it’s awesome that you two are a thing.” She slaps a hand over her mouth. “Sorry. I was supposed to be chill.”

Dillion throws her head back and laughs. “I feel like I’m going to learn so many things about Van tonight.”

“Absolutely. Let’s have drinks!”

I sit back—since there really is nothing else I can do—and let Teagan and Dillion girl bond. I can’t deny it’s nice to see them getting along.

Bradley follows me outside when I put the burgers on the barbecue. He swirls his scotch—he’s not excited about the fact that it’s less than twelve years old—and leans against the railing. “So you’re shacking up with a local, huh?”

“Dillion lived in Chicago until recently, but yeah, she’s local. I know you have something to say; just make sure it isn’t going to get you punched in the face.”

“Are you falling for her?”

“I like her.” I slap several burgers on the grill.

“She lives with her parents? Works for her dad?”

“How would you know that?”

“She mentioned it to Teagan while they were making drinks.”

“Yeah, she works for her family’s business and lives with her parents. It’s temporary, though. She has plans to go back to the city eventually.” Although she hasn’t said anything about it recently.

“‘The city’?” He arches a brow.

I roll my eyes. I guess maybe I’m a local now too. “Chicago. You know I mean Chicago.”

“Mmm.” He swirls his scotch again.

“Mmm, what?”

“Mmm, nothing. Wasn’t she the executor for the will? Or am I getting the name wrong?”

“She’s the one. Why?”

“Right. So you’re not worried about her wanting what you have?” He motions to the cottage.

I give him a look. “You said yourself it’s a heap. What exactly do I have to offer?”

“You’re an architect, and at some point you’re going to have a job again. And this place, as run down as it is, has potential. Her dad runs the only construction company in this town, and she’s his employee.”

“Since when did you become so jaded? Dillion isn’t like that. She’s honest and loyal, and she came back here to help her family out.”

He raises both hands in the air. “Okay, okay. Sorry. It’s been a rough few weeks, is all. It’s hard to know who you can trust. I’m just looking out for you. No offense meant.”

“I get it. But I like her, so no inquisition, okay?”

“I’ll be on my best behavior.”

An hour later we’re stuffed full of burgers. Teagan even tries Dillion’s loaded double-baked potatoes, which are to die for, despite her usually avoiding carbs like the plague. Once dinner is over, Dillion excuses herself, citing an early morning because she has to work.

I walk her back to her trailer and kiss her good night. When I return to the cottage, Teagan is making drinks.

“Where’s Bradley?”

“In the bathroom. He’s probably going to be a while.” She arches a brow.

“Why? Is he feeling okay?” Most of the time I like him, when he’s not being a pretentious ass. He’s ridiculously pampered and entitled. Teagan and I make a game out of poking fun at him because of it.

“The Starbucks drive-through line was long, so he made me go in and get him a latte. I might have forgotten to ask for lactose-free milk on purpose.”

I make a face. “Well, I guess it’s good he has his own bathroom, then.”

“Yup. Sure is.” She looks over her shoulder before she grabs her purse and rummages around in it, producing a bottle of pills. She unscrews the cap and shakes two pills into her palm. She grabs a cutting board and a spoon and crushes them into powder.

“What are you doing?”

“Bradley is three drinks in; you know how he gets when he’s sauced. He goes on these ridiculously long tirades about nothing, and you can’t get him to shut up until he passes out. I’m just speeding the process and saving us from an evening of boredom.” She dumps the pill powder into a lowball glass and adds some scotch, then passes the glass and the spoon to me. “Here. Stir that.”

“What is this stuff?” I mix up the concoction.

“It’s a sedative.”

“Is it safe?”

“Totally. He’ll sleep like a baby. I do it all the time when he goes on one of his tirades and won’t shut up.”

“Do you take these?”

“Every night.” She smiles up at me. “It’s okay, Van. I’m okay. I just needed something to help calm things down.” She taps her temple. “Sometimes our family is a lot to handle. The therapy sessions weren’t cutting it, and I wasn’t sleeping well, and now I am. And I’m coping better too.”

Bradley returns from the bathroom, rubbing his stomach. “I bet that coffee wasn’t lactose-free. Those baristas never listen.”