—
Today is anotherperfect day on Pelican Island with a clear blue sky and a gentle breeze. Sweatshirt-and-shorts weather, toes-in-the-sand weather. But not even the high sun or the smell of sea salt can make us forget that Billy’s dead.
Dylan and his mom moved into one of the old Colonials, all red brick and stately, after his father passed away, and it’s one of my favorites on the island. From the front, it’s an old East Coast manse, but as soon as you follow the pebblestone walkway, you’re greeted with an unobstructed view of the beach, the deck lined with reedy seagrass.
On Dylan’s patio, my classmates are huddled around a barely lit firepit, speaking closely, passing around tissues. Someone set out apaper sack of bagels on the stone wall, and a few flies circle untouched tubs of cream cheese.
“There you are.” Erica rushes toward me. Deep circles have formed under her eyes since I saw her yesterday, and her cheeks are swollen.
“Oh, Erica.”
“I can’t believe it…” She shakes her head, then looks up at me, gripping my arms. But before she can say anything else, the sound of clattering metal rings in the air, and I spin around to see Justin Vreeland with his hands up, his eyes wide.
Dylan lunges toward him, his index finger pointed at his chest. “You shouldn’t be here,” Dylan says, spit flying from his mouth.
“What are you—” Justin starts to say, but Dylan shakes his head.
“No one wants you here. Get out.” Dylan moves forward until Justin backs up, nearly tripping over the raised patio stairs.
Justin’s brows narrow, and he throws up a middle finger before turning around and running back to the street. Everyone else starts murmuring to one another, wrapping their arms around one another, and I grip Erica’s elbow.
“What the hell was that?” I ask.
Erica shakes her head. “He and Billy got into a fight on Friday. Like, blood-and-guts fight. I wouldn’t be surprised if they brought him in for questioning.”
“Questioning?” A tingling sensation spreads from the top of my head.
“You don’t know?” Erica says. “They’re saying it was murder.”
The Party
12:45 a.m.
“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 onPelican 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.
