Chapter 10
The Party
“You showed.” Billy’s face split into a smile and he threw his arms around Ethan.
“Couldn’t miss the first party of the summer. Last party of the school year? How are we framing this thing?”
Billy bowled over laughing, clutching his stomach. This dude still had the power to make him giggle like a kid. He knew there was a reason they stayed such good friends, even when Ethan spent all his time with Lucy.
“No girlfriend tonight?” Billy asked.
“She’s tired. It’s late.”
“Classic.”
Ethan didn’t say anything, which was strange. He always stood up for Lucy even though she was so freaking annoying. Whipped. That’s what Ethan was. Totally and completely whipped.
Ethan surveyed the party and squinted. “Is that Olivia?”
“Yeah. She’s here for the summer. Her parents shipped her to my house while they went off to Switzerland. Or France. I can’t remember.”
“Maybe I should talk to her,” Ethan said, his eyes focused on her.
It was so funny that Ethan cared about Olivia. It’s not like he could bang her. She was gay. Much to the frustration of half the guys on Pelican Island, though the thought of anyone getting with his cousin made Billy want to barf.
Billy shrugged. “I mean you kinda stole her girl. Not sure she’s down to be best friends, bud.”
Ethan made some sort of sound. A grunt.
“Oh, wait, was that the story? Or…”
“Old news.” Ethan shook his head, but his eyes were roaming the lawn like he was looking for something. Someone.
Which made Billy remember his dream. The whole point of the night. “Hey,” Billy said, leaning toward Ethan. “You think I can get Erica back?”
“Seriously?”
“I mean, why not? Final summer. Feel like she might still want to—”
“I don’t think so.”
“Aw, come on.” Billy was wounded. Ethan always had the best advice when it came to Erica. That’s when being in such a boring relationship came in handy. But tonight Ethan seemed distracted. Billy should go talk to Erica by himself.
He looked over to the firepit where he had seen her last, laughing in that adorable bathing suit, her hair tied up off her face but coming loose thanks to the mist from the Sound.
She looked like she did when Billy brought her on his family’s boat, the Sea Witch.
When they went snorkeling and fishing, then lazed on the sun deck for hours.
Billy swung his whole body around as he looked across the lawn, but he couldn’t find her. “You see Erica anywhere?” Billy asked. He drained the contents of his cup. “Did she leave?”
“Come on, man. Forget about her.” Ethan shook his head. “Let’s hang with the boys.” He pointed toward the keg where Dylan was currently being held upside down with the spout in his mouth.
Billy’s face looped into a smile. Ethan was right. Tonight could also be about the boys. “Dog out?” he asked.
Ethan tilted his head up and opened his mouth, letting out a loud and blunt “Woof, woof!”
From his place at the keg, Dylan landed back on his feet and stood at attention, hearing the call. “Arf, arf!” he barked across the lawn.
“My boys!” Billy yelled, his voice echoing in the night. That’s what it was all about, he decided. His buds. His guys. They wouldn’t have these moments come September, and if he could spend another night howling at the moon with his bros, he would do just that.