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“I know the appropriate song for this,” Gibsie said, draping an arm over Claire’s shoulder. Tossing his cigarette butt in the neighbor’s garden, he waved a hand in front of them and said, “Bon Jovi—‘It’s My Life.’”

“Perfect!” Claire chirped, wrapping an arm around his waist as they strolled down the garden path toward his car. “You know what, Gerard? You can be pretty smart when you’re not being pretty stupid.”

Laughing, he pulled her in to his side. “I know, right?”

“Shannon.” Johnny’s deep voice came from behind me, causing a shiver to roll through my body. “Are you okay?”

“I’m not sure,” I admitted quietly, resisting the urge to lean back and feel his body pressed to mine.

“Do you still want to come with me?” he asked, standing so close to me that I could feel the heat emanating from his body. “It’s okay if you don’t. I’m just happy that I got to see you.”

Nodding, I turned to look up at him. “That’s the one thing I am sure of.”

The sound of car tires screeching loudly caused me to startle and I stiffened, instantly panicked and on edge. Johnny shifted closer to me and I automatically burrowed into his side. “It’s okay,” he coaxed, frowning at something over my head. “I think it’s yourbrother?”

“My brother?” Frowning, I spun around to see Joey stumbling face-first out of the back of a moving car. “Joey?” I called out, hurrying toward him. “Joe!”

The car that had deposited my brother in the road beeped twice before speeding off down the terrace. I narrowed my eyes and glared at the black souped-up Honda Civic as it tore off out of sight.

Awareness dawned on me, cold and ugly, as I registered who that car belonged to and what said person represented to my brother.

Nothing good.

“Was that Shane Holland?” I demanded when I reached him, out of breath and panting. “What the hell, Joey! I thought you left that behind you.”

“Shan,” Joey slurred, laughing to himself as he rolled onto his back and sighed in contentment. “How’s it going?”

“Get off the road, you idiot,” I growled, feeling a mixture of relief and terror course through me. “Joey, get up right now!”

He mashed his lips together and sighed. “I missed ya.”

“You’re going to get killed,” I hissed, glaring down at my brother. “Get up before someone drives over you!”

“Let them.” He laughed. “I don’t give a fuck anymore.”

“Clearly,” I grumbled, dropping to my knees beside him. “Does Aoife know about this?”

“Shh,” he groaned, covering his face with his hands. “Don’t.”

“No, of course she doesn’t.” Reaching over, I checked his pockets and groaned in despair. “Well, your wallet’s gone,” I informed him. “And your phone!”

“I fucked up, Shan,” he whispered then. “I’m always fucking up.”

My heart cracked in my chest.

“Joe, just get up off the road and I’ll help you, okay?”

Groaning, he shook his head. “I’m done.”

“What did you take?” I asked in a hushed tone, leaning close to his ear. “What was it, Joe? What did they give you?”

“He’s high?” Johnny asked, standing over us.

I debated denying it and lying, but then thought better of it. What was the point? My brother was lying in the middle of the road in broad daylight. I could hardly pass this off as an accident. “Yeah,” I choked out, shoulders sagging in defeat.

Sighing heavily, Johnny handed me his crutches and reached down. “You’re going to have to help me out here, lad,” he grumbled as he caught ahold of Joey’s hand and pulled him into a sitting position. The movement caused Johnny to hiss loudly and release Joey’s hand. The moment he did, Joey flopped back down on the tarmac. “Fuck.”

“Mister rugby,” Joey slurred.

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